LAHORE, May 14: The returning officer of NA-125 on Tuesday dismissed an application of PTI leader Hamid Khan seeking recounting of votes.

The RO of NA-126, PP-151 and PP-152 also dismissed applications for votes recounting moved by Khwaja Hasaan Ahmad and Khwaja Salman Rafique of PML-N.

During the course of hearing, Mr Khan’s counsel alleged that the PML-N at the behest of local administration committed many irregularities on the polling day. He said polling agents of PTI were expelled from around 200 polling stations and bogus votes were cast in favour of PML-N candidate Khwaja Saad Rafique.

Counsel for Rafique said the applicant just levelled allegations and failed to come up with any cogent evidence. He urged the RO to dismiss the application being a baseless one. After hearing both sides RO Khalid Mahmood Bhatti dismissed the plea.

Counsel for PML-N candidates for NA-126 told the respective RO that the PTI allegedly rigged the election in the constituency. He said the PTI workers not only cast bogus votes in NA-126, but also in PP-151 and PP-152. The counsel argued that the recounting of the votes should be held to ascertain the real mandate of the people. Shafqat Mahmood, winning candidate for PTI from NA-126, defended the allegations through his counsel. RO Javedul Hasan Chishti, however, dismissed the applications. — Staff Reporter