PK-40: PMLN candidate’s plea against recounting dismissed

MANSEHRA: The recounting of votes, started following violent protests in the PK-40 constituency, is currently underway after the Election Commission of Pakistan dismissed a plea from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Sardar Shahjehan Yousuf on Wednesday.

Returning Officer of PK-40, Saleem Khan Jadoon, had ordered the recounting of ballot papers after clashes between workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf activists, who later stormed the central election control room established by the district administration at the Postgraduate College near Karakoram Highway.

A two-member bench stated that since the margin of total votes polled in the election in the constituency was less than 5per percent, the RO considered Abdul Shakoor Khan’s request for a recounting of ballot papers as reasonable.

“There is no solid reason to interfere with the impugned order issued by the RO on February 9 for the recounting of ballot papers, hence the petition is dismissed accordingly,” the order stated.

Sardar Yousuf had requested the ECP to annul the recounting process, which was rejected by the latter, ordering the continuity of the process overseen by 10 lawyers, five from each side.The PTI’s Abdul Shakoor had appealed to the court, stating that according to Form-45 issued by the presiding officers in 173 polling stations at the end of polling, he emerged as the winner, while the RO declared PMLN aspirant Shahjehan Yousuf the winner in Form 47 with a slim margin of 328 votes.

The Form 47 issued by the returning officer revealed that the PTI-backed contender had secured 43,680 votes, while the PMLN aspirant had been leading with 44,012 votes. So far, the recounting of 91 polling stations out of a total of 173 has been completed.