February 20, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 12, 1429

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Feb 19: The district returning officer (DRO) has withheld results of NA-171 and NA-172 on Tuesday for alleged rigging and other malpractices. He has recommended to the Election Commission of Pakistan that re-polling be held at 23 stations in NA-171 and two stations in NA-172.

The DRO issued the orders on complaints lodged by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party candidates in both the constituencies. The re-polling may deprive Legharis of a seat for the first time in decades. In the early 70s, Mr Muhammad Khan Leghari, the father of Farooq Leghari, lost election to Jamaat-i-Islami’s Dr Nazir Ahmed.

According to unofficial results, PML-Q candidates for NA-171 and 172, Khwaja Sheraz and former president Farooq Leghari, were ahead of their rivals in ballot count. The results of PP-240, 241 and 245 have also been delayed. The PML-N candidate for NA-172, Hafiz Abdul Kareem with 42,343 votes is behind Mr Leghari who has secured 43,582 votes and the PPP candidate Shabir Leghari obtained 36,179 votes.

Mr Leghari’s rival told a press conference on Tuesday that at Khar polling station, Leghari’s supporters did not allow their polling agents to enter the station.

The official result of NA-171 has been delayed after candidates approached the DRO complaining that PML-Q supporters had abducted polling staff in Leghari, Khosa, Lund, Qaisrani and Buzdar tribal areas. Sources said re-polling had been suggested at 23 stations.