ISLAMABAD: In a development which may add to the pressure on the PML-N government, former president Asif Ali Zardari supported on Tuesday PTI’s demand for recounting of votes in four constituencies of Punjab and said there was no harm in doing it.

“Heavens will not fall if the demand is accepted,” PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar quoted Mr Zardari as saying in a statement.

The PPP co-chairman expressed surprise over what he called “continued foot dragging” by the government on PTI’s demand. The recounting of votes in constituencies where there have been complaints and demands have been made for it should be carried out whether such constituencies are in Punjab or Sindh or elsewhere.

The PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, has given a call for march on Islamabad on August 14 against what he has termed rigging in the 2013 general elections and said his party took the decision after it received no response to its complaints from the Election Commission, judiciary and parliament.

Former president says Sharif has been elected as PM, and not as monarch

Mr Zardari had earlier said he was ready to help the PML-N and the PTI to resolve their differences, but now he has publicly supported the latter’s demand for a vote recount.

Farhatullah Babar said the former president had felt anguished about the deepening controversy and wondered why Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been so upset about it.

Recounting of votes might be carried out in 40 constituencies, if so needed, instead of only four as the PTI was demanding, he added.

Mr Zardari said people had elected Mr Sharif as prime minister, and not as a “monarch” with absolute power, or to interfere in the affairs of provinces.

He said the PPP had accepted the poll results for the sake of democracy and democratic process, but it could not abandon the people who were facing severe hardships, including prolonged loadshedding and water shortage in oppressive heat. Industries are suffering because of continuing power outages.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014