PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate for PK-90 in Bannu Malik Adnan Khan has blamed the returning officer for not considering his application for recounting of votes in the constituency and said that avoiding his application is tantamount to depriving him of his constitutional rights.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, he said that he had lost the elections to Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal candidate with a difference of just 28 votes. He said that would be satisfied and stop to complain if the constituency was opened for recounting of votes.

Mr Khan alleged that his votes in the polling station 59 Bazaar Ahmed Khan had been missing mysteriously and Election Commission of Pakistan had also adopted silence over the issue. He said that some other candidates also submitted applications on July 27 but ECP was yet to consider the same.

He said that MMA candidate Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani was his rival in the elections. He said that he was sure about his success but the actual results were yet to be declared. He urged ECP and returning officer to consider his application seriously as it was his constitutional right.

Mr Khan said that the people had voted for PTI candidates for bringing real change in the society. He said that successive governments disappointed the people across the country and then the only option left with them was to support PTI.

He expressed the hope that the new government would take effective steps to resolve all longstanding issues of people. He said that the rest of political parties lost the elections for their failure to serve the people.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2018