QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned all the four candidates who contested the by-election on a Balochistan Assembly constituency (PB-50 Turbat-3) to Islamabad on Jan 11.

Provincial Election Com­mis­sioner in Balochistan Syed Sultan Bayazid said here on Thursday that the ECP had also summoned the district returning officer and returning officer.

The provincial election commissioner has stopped announcement of the by-election’s result because of reservations of the candidates and sent his report to the ECP which would hear the viewpoints of candidates and officials concerned.

Two main candidates —Akram Dashti of National Party and Akbar Askani of PML-N — have already reached Islamabad and two others — Mir Mohammad Ali Rind of Balochistan National Party-Awami and independent candidate Lala Khurshid — would reach there on Sunday.

Both Mr Dashti and Mr Askani are claiming victory while the two other candidates are accusing the PML-N and NP candidates of rigging the by-election.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2016