Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked the PML-N workers for their tireless efforts and said that Maryam Nawaz ran a great election campaign. “I would like to thank Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz for conducting peaceful elections in Punjab.”

میں ضمنی انتخابات کیلئے انتھک کوششوں پر پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن کے راہنماؤں اور ورکرز کا مشکور ہوں. مریم نواز نے پارٹی کیلئے بہترین انتخابی مہم چلائی. پر امن انتخابات کے انعقاد پر وزیرِ اعلی حمزہ شہباز کی قیادت میں پنجاب حکومت مبارکباد کی مستحق ہے.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 18, 2022

Congratulating PTI for the big win, Chairman Imran Khan thanked his party workers and supporters of Punjab for what he called not just defeating the PML-N but the entire state machinery.

“The only way forward from here is to hold free and fair polls under a credible Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The PTI chairman said that now decisions would be taken by masses not in closed rooms,” said Khan.

I want to first thank our PTI workers & voters of Punjab for defeating not just PMLN candidates but the entire state machinery, esp harassment by police, & a totally biased ECP. Thank you to all our Allies, PMLQ, MWM & Sunni Ittehad Council. pic.twitter.com/TgFqQ7EDj0

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 17, 2022

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, on the other hand, called for introspection following the defeat of the ruling PML-N in its political heartland.

Maryam took to Twitter and said that the “defeat should be accepted with an open heart”.

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“The PML-N should accept the results of the by-polls with an open heart as it is the decision of the masses,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted. She added that winning and losing were part of politics; therefore, the party should now focus on its weaknesses, identify them, and then overcome them. “God willing, everything will be fine,” said Maryam.

مسلم لیگ ن کو کھلے دل سے نتائج تسلیم کرنا چاہییں۔ عوام کے فیصلے کے سامنے سر جھکانا چاہیے۔ سیاست میں ہار جیت ہوتی رہتی ہے۔ دل بڑا کرنا چاہیے۔ جہاں جہاں کمزوریاں ہیں، ان کی نشاندہی کر کے انھیں دور کرنے کے لیے محنت کرنی چاہیے۔ انشاءاللّہ خیر ہو گی۔

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 17, 2022

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif blamed the “difficult decisions” taken by the Centre for its failure, according to a Daily Jang report.

PTI’s Secretary General Asad Umar termed PTI victory in the high-voltage Punjab by-elections as a milestone in Pakistan’s political history. 

Asad Umar also stated that PTI’s core committee meeting would be held today (Monday) with Imran Khan in the chair, where the PTI would take a future course of action.

Asad Umar also said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be elected as chief minister of Punjab on July 22, adding that Shehbaz Sharif is now only the “Prime Minister of Islamabad”. 

Speaker Punjab Assembly and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that if Imran Khan asks him to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, then he will dissolve the assembly in two seconds without thinking.

Elahi further said that Imran Khan worked the hardest, and he [Elahi] had won many by-elections, but the strategy Khan made was perfect and he [Khan] used his energy to the fullest.