KARACHI, May 18: The Sindh High Court on Saturday directed the returning officer (RO) concerned to hold recounting of votes of a provincial assembly constituency (PS-19) in Naushahro Feroze in the presence of the victorious and defeated candidates.

A division bench headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar gave this direction while hearing a petition of Ghulam Rasool Khan Jatoi of the National People’s Party, who had emerged victorious in the elections from PS-19, against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision of recounting of votes.

The bench also issued notices to the respondents and a federal law officer and put off the matter to May 24.

He impleaded the ECP, the RO of PS-19, rival candidate Mumtaz Ali Chandio of the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Attorney General for Pakistan as respondent.

The petitioner submitted that he was declared successful candidate in the election by the RO on May 15.

However, he said, the ECP ordered the recounting on the application of his rival candidate without hearing him.

He prayed to the court to restrain the respondent from recounting of the votes.

‘Missing’ person case

The Sindh High Court on Saturday issued notices to the defense secretary, provincial police and Rangers chiefs and others in a petition seeking whereabouts of a young man who was allegedly picked up by the paramilitary troops.A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam also issued notices to the provincial law officer and other respondents and adjourned the hearing to May 26.Petitioner Bilqees, wife of Dil Murad, a resident of Garden East, submitted that Rangers personnel raided her house on May 6 and took away her son Abdul Qadeer.She impleaded the defence secretary, director general of Rangers, home secretary, inspector general of police and the SHO of the Nabi Bux police station as respondents.

The petitioner, represented by Advocate Nasir Ahmed, stated that the raiding personnel also misbehaved with her when she protested over the arrest of her son.

She stated that she visited the area police station and the Rangers headquarters to find out the whereabouts of her son, but to no avail as the law-enforcers refused to give any information about him.

The woman stated that the respondent SHO also refused to lodge an FIR for the missing of her son.

Her counsel submitted that the missing young man was a social worker who had no criminal record.

He apprehended that his client might be implicated in a criminal case by the law-enforcement agencies.

The counsel stated that the Rangers officials would be responsible if any physical or financial loss was caused to the petitioner’s son.

Advocate Ahmed said that the missing man had earlier been involved in a false case, but he was later bailed out.

He contended that the paramilitary troops had no right to carry out raids on the houses of citizens.

The petitioner asked the court to direct the respondents to produce her son in court.

She also prayed to the court to direct the respondents to record her statement under Section 154 of the criminal procedure code and provide security and protection to her and her family members.

The woman requested the court to restrain the Rangers from raiding the houses of civilians and arresting them.