ECP reserves verdict in case about Omar Ayub’s victory

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday reserved its verdict after arguments were concluded in the case concerning the election of Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan in the National Assembly.

The hearing took place at the ECP Secretariat under Sections 8, 9, and 95 of the Elections Act, 2017, read with the Elections Rules 2017, Article 218 of the Constitution, and other enabling legal provisions pertaining to NA-18, Haripur constituency — where PMLN’s Babar Nawaz challenged the victory of PTI’s returned candidate Omar Ayub.

Appearing before the commission’s bench, the petitioner’s counsel argued that he had sought a recount, not a re-election, in the constituency. Omar Ayub’s lawyer countered by stating that the PMLN candidate had already congratulated Ayub on his win.

During arguments, the petitioner’s lawyer alleged that fake votes were cast at multiple polling stations and that results were not properly consolidated.

ECP member Babar Hassan Bharwana questioned the lawyer, asking whether he could cite any precedent where the time bar had lapsed, the matter had not gone to the Election Tribunal, and the ECP had not annulled the election. He further noted that no recount request had been made and remarked that the arguments presented should have been raised before the returning officer (RO), asking the lawyer if he had approached the RO.

The petitioner’s counsel reiterated that they did not receive any notice regarding result consolidation, alleging that the RO violated the law and that 11,500 votes were rejected. He clarified that he was only seeking a recount, not a re-election. He further argued that in NA-118, with 604 polling stations and 1,906 booths, a total of 362,000 votes were cast in 540 minutes—translating to one vote every two minutes and 15 seconds, which he claimed was impossible.

Omar Ayub’s lawyer responded by stating that Babar Nawaz had publicly conceded defeat on social media and congratulated Ayub, adding that the petitioner had failed to prove any rigging. After hearing both sides, the ECP reserved its verdict in the case.