By Shahabullah Khan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (TSAT) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party on Sunday has defeated the ruling alliance in a by-election, which is his first victory after being ousted from power.

According to unofficial results, Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate from NA 33 Hangu Nadim Khayal secured 21,583 votes while his opponent from JUI Mufti Ubaidullah got 17,153 votes.

Hangu was a stronghold of JUI and its candidate lost the election despite support from other ruling parties alliance. 

“PTI wins NA bye election in Hangu,” Taimur Khan Jhagra, provincial Minister of Finance and Health of government in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) tweeted. 

“Despite the electorate knowing that PTI MNAs have resigned. Despite JUIF constantly hammering this point before election. This will happen across KP; across Pakistan. What will the lotas do now? Time for elections,” Jhagra said.

Khan’s party is ruling in KP since 2013. While PTI 123 MNAs along with Khan have already resigned from the National Assembly, lower house of parliament, last week. 

Political analysts in Pakistan believed the first victory of Khan, after his removal from power by the former opposition alliance through a no-trust motion in the parliament, is alarming for a new government and its allies. 

“PDM Government will have to take laborious pains to keep PTI at bay, especially after their marginal victory in Hangu NA-33 by-polls and reported statements from Army Chief to predict Imran Khan’s victory in General Elections. Verdict of Foreign Funding Case is the key,” Lahore-based political analyst Muhammad Ibrahim Qazi wrote on Twitter. 

“After winning the second phase of LG polls in KP, now the victory in #Hangu bye-elections endorsed again that KP is the stronghold of PTI,” Javed Aziz Khan, a Peshawar based journalist said.

He wrote on Twitter that PTI won despite its leaders have already hinted their candidate will resign soon after his election.

Khan’s supporters celebrated their party victory and called it a future decision of the Pakistani nation for Imran Khan. 

“Congratulations to Dr Nadeem Khayal & PTI for winning the NA 33 Hangu bye election today. Defeated the combined opp's candidate by a big margin! People of Hangu have spoken with their vote against US-initiated regime change conspiracy to bring in criminals to power!,” former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said. 

Khan's massive gatherings in Peshawar and Karachi also put the ruling alliance in fear as he was welcomed by a huge crowd in both cities and Khan demanded immediate elections. 

On Thursday, Imran Khan will hold it third gathering in Lahore, the hometown of new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.