Pak elections 2018: Pre-polls show Imran Khan’s PTI gaining ground

Islamabad, July 5: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by former cricketer Imran Khan is making a headway ahead of the July 25 national and provincial elections in the country, with one survey showing it to be ahead of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and another showing it to be just behind, Reuters reported.

According to a survey by Pakistan's Pulse Consultant, PTI has 30 per cent support nationwide, three per cent more than the PML-N and 13 more than the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) - a major party of the country which has fallen behind in the recent years, the Reuters report added.

Another poll by Gallup Pakistan showed the PML-N leading PTI by one point (26 per cent to 25) while the PPP trailing at 16 per cent, the Reuters report added.

The results of both the surveys, commissioned by Pakistan's Jang Media Group, were published in its affiliated newspaper - The News - on Wednesday, July 4, Reuters said, adding that the surveys covered 3,000 people with 1.6 per cent margin error for Pulse and 2.3 per cent for Gallup.

The new polls would encourage the PTI which was trailing the PML-N by eight-nine per cent in the surveys conducted in 2017.

The PML-N suffered a major setback after its sitting prime minister and the most prolific face - Nawaz Sharif - was disqualified from the top post by the country's Supreme Court last year over corruption charges.

The three-time prime minister of Pakistan, who now also stands disqualified from politics for life, awaits the verdict in an anti-corruption court on Friday, July 6, along with his daughter Maryam, who is contesting this year's election.

The PML-N was also rattled by the disqualification of another top minister of the government and escape of another from the country. The last incumbent, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was also disqualified from contesting the election from his home constituency Murree, Punjab, Pakistan.