Candidates challenge defeat at ET

PESHAWAR: The Election Tribunal has received petitions challenging the defeat of several candidates in the general elections held on February 8, 2024.

The election petitions have been filed by defeated candidates in the National Assembly constituency NA-28, and provincial PK-74, PK-75, PK-78 in Peshawar, and PK-101 and PK-102 constituencies of Bannu district.

The petitions, filed by advocate Shumail Ahmad Butt, include the Election Commission of Pakistan, district returning officers, returning officers, and successful candidates as respondents.

The petitions argued that Form 45 and Form 47 were altered, and the results were changed. Applicants contended that they were successful in the elections held on February 8, while opposing candidates were declared successful in Form 47. They demanded that the results be arranged according to Form 45. The applicants also requested protection for the ballot papers and urged for the verification of votes before rearranging the results.

According to Shumail Ahmad Butt advocate, the applicants have won in Form 45 but have been excluded in Form 47. It is stated in the petition that they applied for a recount in the Election Commission, but their requests were rejected without any reason.

“It was the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure transparent elections, but it has failed to fulfill its duty. At present, the Election Commission is biased against them, and their requests have been rejected several times. The Election Commission did not listen to them properly, which was their right,” the petitioner’s lawyer said. Candidates Sajid Nawaz from NA-28, Arbab Jandad from PK-74, Malik Shahab from PK-75, Arbab Asim from PK-78, Malik Adnan from PK-101, and Shah Muhammad from PK-102 have filed petitions in the Election Tribunal.