ECP replaces RO for NA-15, Mansehra

MANSEHRA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday transferred the returning officer for NA-15, Hajra Sami.

Mohammad Asad Ali, the ECP’s assistant director, relinquished the official services of Hajra Sami for commission in NA-15 Mansehra-II through his official order.

An official notification No F-2(2)2024 said “in a partial modification to this Commission’s earlier order, No F-2(2)2023 issued on December 11, 2023, and in pursuance of the provision of Section 51 of the Election Act 2017 he (commission) is pleased to direct (execute) the following amendments in the National Assembly’s constituency NA-15 Mansehra-II.”

The notification said Zakir Jadoon, director of Urban Area Development Authority, was substituted with Hajra Sami, the additional deputy commissioner (Relief and Human Rights) Mansehra.

The ECP’s two-member bench headed by the CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja had rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s plea to withhold the form 49 (victory) of his rival independent candidate backed by the PTI, Shahzada Gustasap Khan, after she presented her written statement before it on Thursday.

She had also issued form 47 and was going to complete the rest of the codal formalities for forms 48 and 49, respectively, but was replaced with another officer. The order issued by the ECP’s assistant director didn’t mention any reason for her substitution with another officer at a time when the PMLN was in a legal battle with PTI-backed independent Shahzada Gustasap Khan, who according to form 47, was running ahead with a margin of over 25,000 votes.