ECP issues directive for vote recount in NA-122

Published October 29, 2014
NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. — File Photos
NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. — File Photos

LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday directed an additional district and sessions court in Lahore to verify votes cast in the NA-122 constituency.

The decision comes against a request filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan whereby he had accused NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of rigging votes in the said constituency.

The ECP had directed Additional Sessions Court Judge Shahida Saeed to begin the verification process from Nov 7 onwards. A commission will inspect all votes cast in the constituency.

Also read: ECP gives nod to ballot review in NA-122

On Sept 17, the ECP had given a nod to review ballot in NA-122. The NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the PTI had sought a recount and verification of voters’ thumb impressions.

Sadiq had defeated Khan in the 2013 general elections and the PTI challenged the results.

Khan had claimed that during an investigation into the vote count in PP-147 which fell under NA-122, evidences of wrongdoing had been found. It revealed that in six polling stations opened up, 3,267 out of 4,726 votes casted could not be verified.

Also read: Imran wants NA speaker to resign for verification of votes in his constituency

According to the PTI chairman, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) had found that CNIC numbers written on 696 vote counterfoils were fake. Besides, 69 per cent of the votes polled in the six polling stations were found to be bogus.

The PTI chief has been seeking resignation of Sadiq till the completion of verification of votes in the constituency by the election tribunal.

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....