ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has turned down a request from PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to overturn his loss in the NA-15 Mansehra-Torghar poll.
On February 8, Shahzada Gustasup Khan, supported by the PTI, defeated Mr. Sharif by a margin of more than 25,000 votes. The provisional findings of the ECP show that the former received 105,249 votes, while Mr. Sharif received 80,382 votes.
The leader of the PML-N had contested his opponent’s win announcement, arguing that Form-45 for the constituency’s 125 polling places had not been sent out because snowfall had interfered with the accessibility of Kala Dhakka, the area’s rural portion.
But on Thursday, the ECP rejected the application for failing to advance before Mr. Sharif’s attorney, Jehangir Jadoon, could enter the case.
Denies Awn’s win announcement and directs an investigation into claims of NA-27 rigging
Mr. Jadoon was instructed to make another application, which he eventually did, after he stated that he was preoccupied with another matter and requested that the commission not reject the plea.
In a related event, Awn Chaudhary of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), who had previously been proclaimed the winner of NA-128 (Lahore), has not received his victory notification from the ECP.
Salman Akram Raja, the PTI-backed candidate in the constituency, filed a petition, which resulted to the judgment.
The commission has also halted the announcement of Mohd. Iqbal Khan’s victory in NA-27 (Khyber), which was supported by the PTI.
After Mr. Khan was accused of extensive election cheating by a rival candidate, the injunction was issued.
Following the arguments, the bench established an inquiry committee. The committee will reopen the subject on February 21 and present its report within seven days of recording the necessary election staff members’ comments.
With assistance from Mansehra’s Nisar Ahmad Khan
SOURCE; DAWN NEWS
