KARACHI, Oct 29: The Election Commission is likely to decide on Wednesday (today) whether to continue with the recounting of votes in NA-255 that has been going on for the last couple of days, or order re-polling in the constituency.
Both the contesting parties — Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Mohajir Qaumi Movement — have lodged protest over “disappearance of bags containing ballot papers in favour of their candidates” from the record of different polling stations.
According to informed sources, the Election Commission will hold its meeting here on Wednesday after accepting a petition filed by the MMA candidate Aslam Mujahid.
The Election Commission meeting will be attended by Justice Ashraf Leghari, Justice Nasim Sikander, Justice Ahmad Khan Lashari and Justice Ehsanullah Qureshi.
The EC has also issued notices to both the parties, asking them to appear before it on Wednesday to present their point of view.
In the initial unofficial results, the MMA candidate was declared winner, while in the unofficial results announced over PTV and radio, Mehmood Ahmad Qureshi of Mohajir Qaumi Movement was declared successful. In the gazette notification name of Mehmood Ahmed Qureshi was published.
When the matter was taken up by the MMA with the authorities, the EC issued an errata withholding the result of NA-255 and ordered recounting of votes in the entire constituency.
In the ongoing recounting which entered 10th day on Tuesday, various envelopes containing used and unused ballot papers were found missing.
According to Aslam Mujahid, vote recount of 100 out of 194 polling stations had so far been completed, in which 11 envelopes, containing used and unused ballot papers were found missing. The matter was brought to the knowledge of the Election Commission through a petition.
Similar complaint was agitated by leaders of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement in which it was pointed out that eight envelopes containing votes in favour of their candidate were found missing from the bags of polling stations 31, 32, 37, 45, 52, 68, 73 and 87.
Both the parties claimed that their candidate had won the polls and termed it a conspiracy to deprive their nominee of a chance to represent them in parliament.
In the petition, Aslam Mujahid pointed out that at seven polling stations all envelopes containing cast, counted, rejected and unused votes were found missing from the bags containing record.
The alleged difference between my votes and votes of Mehmood Ahmed Qureshi being 3,200 and the missing /lost votes being 9,445 has undoubtedly created doubt about the authenticity of election results, he said.
The petitioner has prayed to the EC to order re-polling in 58 polling stations.
Meanwhile, recounting in PS-118 could not resume on Tuesday as the Returning officer concerned was on leave.
