Ayaz Sadiq stays victorious in recount

E-Paper | June 10, 2026

LAHORE: The returning officer for National Assembly constituency NA-129 (Lahore-VII) declared Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as winner after his vote tally against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Abdul Aleem Khan improved by 30 votes in the recount here on Sunday.

The PTI nominee had requested for recounting of votes in all polling stations. His plea was accepted but the process was discontinued after bags containing ballots from 40 polling stations were opened and Mr Sadiq’s vote tally went up and the RO refused to open more bags.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2018

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ELECTIONS 2018

Pakistan

Ayaz Sadiq lashes out at Chief Election Commissioner for 'ignoring' meeting request

Shahbaz plea for vote recount in Karachi constituency rejected

Aleem Khan, Saad Rafique and Abid Sher Ali's requests for recount accepted

Patriot

Jul 30, 2018 09:59am

no dhandli here\???

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Tamza

Jul 30, 2018 10:06am

this process is ridiculous - either ‘open’ NO bags or ALL bags. the decision to do recounts should be in control of the RO, BUT if the gap is less than 1% of votes cast the recount should be ‘automatic’.

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HAJI

Jul 30, 2018 10:34am

This doesn't make sense, what if the count tilts again! Well, this is Pakistan. Whatever government employee utters, become law at that spot.

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Owais

Jul 30, 2018 12:32pm

So why is the local RO refusing to open more bags? A recount is either a full recount or its not a recount. Aleem has not made any press conference like other sour losers

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Tamza

Jul 30, 2018 12:42pm

@Patriot when you win it is assumed ‘no dhandli’ Sad!!

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Imtiaz Ali Khan

Jul 30, 2018 01:09pm

Is giving cash to the poor people before election is considered rigging? Because that seems to be the go to of few party.

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raza

Jul 30, 2018 01:10pm

Why would RO refuse to open more bags? What was he afraid of? Why weren't all the bags opened?

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Zak

Jul 30, 2018 01:11pm

Next election please have electronic voting.

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Zak

Jul 30, 2018 01:12pm

This proves, no one influenced the vote.

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Zak

Jul 30, 2018 01:13pm

In Egypt, when army was involved in their voting, The president got 95% vote, now that is influencing and rigging. Ours was fair, no interference and commended on by EU monitors. Thumbs up to all the institutions.

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Sajjad

Jul 30, 2018 01:19pm

How come the tally was different even if higher? How can we trust any count? Especially the close ones. This particular request for recount should not have been accepted in the first place as the difference was more than 8000 votes.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jul 30, 2018 01:53pm

Is it not a tangible proof that the 2018 general elections were fair, free and transparent in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?

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Tamza

Jul 30, 2018 02:06pm

“Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq?” IS he speaker, or ‘former’ speaker??

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Khawaja

Jul 30, 2018 02:54pm

Ayaz Sadiq votes went up by 30 votes is all the more reason to continue counting than stopping it.

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Karim

Jul 30, 2018 03:34pm

This selfstyled Speaker of Nawaz corrupt

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saad

Jul 30, 2018 03:37pm

@Khawaja This is the main reason for those 35 seats where recounting should happened in these constituency,,,

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Abbasshah

Jul 30, 2018 04:03pm

Churchill had said it that its the counting Which, matters the most ,the poor voters doesn’t know the powers to be ?(manipulation).A big shortcoming of democracy.Thats the elections after all were not so fair.

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Aug 02, 2018 04:58pm

Why RO stop halfway ?? Let all confusions die by complete recounting in all polling statio as Each polling station can have a different score I. E one may be winner in one polling station but might be losing highly in other station.

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