LAHORE, Sept 8: The PML-Q panel could not be declared a winner despite securing the highest number of votes in election of Ravi Town Nazim and Naib Nazim on Monday because of failure to meet the legal requirement of bagging at least 51 per cent of total votes for being declared elected.

The Punjab Local Councils Election Authority will now fix a date for run-off polls. In this exercise, candidates winning by simple majority will be declared the winners.

Of 596 votes cast out of 630 registered, votes of 30 union councils of the town, the PML-Q panel polled 295 votes and the PML-N, the PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami panel got 290 votes. A third panel led by Amanullah Khan secured only one vote. Eight votes were cancelled and two were lost.

The PML-Q panel comprised City District Government coordinator for Ravi Town Amer Munir (Nazim) and Mehr Asif (Naib Nazim). The rival panel comprised Khwaja Salman Rafiq (Nazim) and Malik Sarfraz (Naib Nazim).

A union council Nazim and a woman were reportedly caught with bogus votes but no action was taken against them. Hundreds of supporters of the candidates thronged the GT Road stretch opposite the University of Engineering and Technology (where the polling was held) throughout the day. A number of people paraded the road with plastic ‘lotas’ in their hands. Supporters of the PML-Q panel were seen carrying firearms.

According to APP, of the 630-man electoral college of the town, 28 seats have fallen vacant due to the resignation or death of the members.

Of 602 voters, 596 obtained ballot papers, 594 votes were cast and eight of them were rejected.

The offices of the Nazim and Naib Nazim were declared vacant after Qaisar Amin Butt resigned as he had to participate in provincial assembly elections. Butt was elected in by-polls held after the murder of Aftab Asghar Dar of PML-N who was elected Nazim in the local bodies elections held in December 2000.

As such the Ravi Town councillors will go to polls for the fourth time.