Imran Khan decides to retain NA-95 Mianwali seat

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who is poised to become prime minister of Pakistan, has decided to retain his NA-95 Mianwali seat, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Sources say the PTI chief will vacate National Assembly seats from Islamabad (NA-53), Bannu (NA-35), Karachi (NA-243), and Lahore (NA-131).

Mr. Khan wants to retain his hometown seat where he received a whopping 162,499 votes. However, some party leaders oppose this decision, suggesting the prime minister-in-waiting not to give up Lahore seat because they believe it may be difficult for the party to win it back.

Sources say if the PTI chief vacates this seat there are chances of PML-N stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique clinching it in by-election. The final decision in this regard would be taken later after formation of the government.

In NA-53 constituency, Mr. Khan defeated former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by receiving 92,891 votes while the PML-N leader managed a mere 44,314 votes.

He emerged victorious on NA-35, Bannu, with 24,317 votes, defeating MMA candidate Akram Khan Durrani.

In NA-243 Karachi, Imran trounced his rival MQM-P candidate Ali Raza Abidi by a heavy margin as he bagged 91,358 votes, while the latter managed only 24,082 votes.

In NA-95 Mianwali, the PTI chief defeated PML-N candidate Obaidullah Shadikhel by securing a whopping 162,499 votes, while his opponent could bag mere 49,505 votes.