HYDERABAD: Dr Sikandar Shoro, an independent candidate in just concluded election, who had lost to Pakistan Peoples Party’s Malik Asad Sikandar on PS-82 (Jamshoro) has urged Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to implement its directive issued on July 30 about vote recount in the constituency.

He requested the ECP in an application, which Dawn obtained on Wednesday, not to issue final notification of the winning candidate till the vote recount process was completed.

Dr Shoro who lost to Malik Asad by around 4,000 votes referred to ECP’s July 30 directives ordering vote recount in PS-82 and said he had apprised the commission on July 28 about the factual situation on polling day and the result.

He said that he had submitted to the commission details of the difficulties he had to face on polling day at the hands of presiding officer, polling staff and finally returning officer.

He said that after the RO refused to allow vote recount he sent the application to the commission and was assured that the process of consolidation of votes had not yet been concluded.

But later, the RO and district returning officer issued notice of completion of consolidation of votes probably to avoid vote recount, he said.

He pointed out that provincial election commissioner had also issued a letter on July 30 directing the RO for NA-230 (Badin-II) and PS-73 (Badin-IV) to complete vote recount and withhold Form 49 until the recount was completed. He also directed regional election commissioner to be present during the recount.

Mr Shoro said the RO was bound to comply with ECP’s July 30 directive about the vote recount but he acted in a mala fide manner under the influence of the rival candidate and concluded proceedings of consolidation of votes at 6pm on Sunday despite having known about the ECP order.

He said that it left no room for doubt that the RO was biased. The applicant’s stand had been vindicated as he had communicated his fears to ECP earlier. The Form 47 showed that he received 36,012 votes while the Form 49 issued by RO had a tally of his votes at 36,315, indicating a difference of 303 votes, he said.

He demanded the ECP ensure implementation of its directive on vote recount under the supervision of DRO and notification in this regard might not be issued till then.

ECP issued on July 30 a list of constituencies where it had approved a vote recount. The list included PS-73 where Dr Fehmida Mirza lost to PPP’s Taj Mohammad Mallah and PS-82 on which Dr Shoro had lost to Malik Asad.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2018