Imran Khan can go to any extent to become PM: Bilawal

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan is ready to do anything that would take him to the Prime Minister House from his residence in Banigala, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Sunday.

While addressing a rally in Zangli area of Peshawar, Bilawal also criticised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, saying he "has stuck to his seat" despite being ousted.

"The inept federal government has not done anything but deceive the public," he said. "No section of the country is pleased with the government's policies."

Bilawal added the economic situation of the country would improve when there are employment opportunities for the people. "There would be no progress if people, including farmers and pensioners, are in crisis."

However, Bilawal said, October 26 is the day when public will get to decide for themselves.

"We will be contesting elections against two parties that are in government," he said. "You have to decide who served and gave you an identity."  

All eyes on NA-4

The by-election, due on October 26, is being seen as a litmus test for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) popularity in the province, especially with regards to the general elections next year. 

The seat had fallen vacant when the incumbent lawmaker, PTI's Gulzar Khan, passed away on August 28 this year. Khan had become estranged with the party leadership over differences on several issues but was still a PTI member.

The constituency consists of suburban areas of Peshawar, including Badabher, Chamkani, Matni, Adezai, Ahmadkhel, Bazidkhel and Koh Damaan.

In the 2013 polls, the PTI candidate had secured 55,134 votes while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) Nasir Musazi had obtained 20,412 votes. Moreover, Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) Sabir Awan had garnered 16,493 votes while Awami National Party’s (ANP) candidate Arbab Ayub Jan had received 15,795 votes. After them, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) candidate, Arbab Kamal, had secured 12,519 votes followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate, Misbahud­din, who got over 12,000 votes.

At present, the PML-N has again given the ticket to last time's runner-up, Musazai, who is being supported by the JUI-F and the Qaumi Watan Party.

Meanwhile, the PTI is fielding Arbab Amir Ayub; the PPP Asad Gulzar, late incumbent Gulzar Khan’s son; the ANP Khushdil Khan, former deputy speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the JI, Wisal Farooq. 

Moreover, the newly formed but unregistered religious-political party, Milli Muslim League (MML), is supporting independent candidate Haji Liaquat Ali Khan in the race. 

The MML's candidate in the NA-120 by-election in Lahore last month, who contested elections as an independent since the ECP does not recognise the party on the directions of the Interior Ministry, had gained over 5,800 votes, surpassing the PPP and JI candidates. 

The MML, an offshoot of the Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaatud Dawa,  is yet to be recognised by the ECP on the directions of the Interior Ministry, which states that the intelligence agencies and Foreign Ministry have advised agianst the move. 

Electronic voting machines 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), for the first time in the country, will be using electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the by-election.

As many as 269 polling stations would be established for the by-poll. Of them, the EVMs would be used in over 100 polling booths of 35 polling stations in both urban and rural areas of the constituency.

Around 47,255 voters are expected to cast their votes through the EVMs along with the manual voting process.