ECP withdraws victory notification, orders re-polling in PB-50

ISLAMABAD: Finally, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Thursday withdrew the victory notification of ex-provincial minister Zamarak Khan as member of Balochistan Assembly from PB-50 (Killa Abdullah), announcing re-polling in the entire constituency on April 21 instead of six polling stations.

The development came under the orders passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Election Commission also withdrew the notification for re-polling at six polling stations of the constituency, slated for March 28. The apex court on March 18 ordered re-election in Qilla Abdullah’s PB-50 constituency after mutual consent of political parties and the electoral body.

Similarly, under Sections 50 and 51 of the Elections Act, 2017, the Election Commission appointed Zakir Ali, Deputy Commissioner Killa Abdullah as District Returning Officer (DRO), Zaheer Ahmed, Assistant Commissioner Gulistan as Returning Officer (RO) and Abdul Mateen, Assistant District Education Officer Dobandi and Anwar Ali Naib Tehsildar Killa Abdullah as Assistant Returning Officers for PB-50.

Awami National Party’s (ANP) Zamarak Khan was notified winner of PB-50 in the February 8 general elections. However, his victory was challenged by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Pakistan’s Malik Nawaz. In a tough contest, Zamarak had secured 44,713 votes, whereas Nawaz was able to muster 43,445 votes.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, had heard the case. The apex court set aside the Election Commission’s earlier order of re-polling at six polling stations and ordered the commission to conduct polling afresh in the constituency.

During the hearing, the ANP leader’s counsel pointed out that the turnout at many polling stations of the constituency remained ‘unnatural’, however, despite this, no re-election was ordered in the constituency. He also noted that re-polling was ordered only at those polling stations where his client was declared victorious.