HYDERABAD/SUKKUR: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan from notifying the results of PS-64 Hyderabad-III and PS-21 Ghotki-IV and issued notices to respondents in separate pleas filed in the court’s Hyderabad and Sukkur circuits, respectively.

The Hyderabad circuit bench comprising Justice Azizur Rehman and Justice Mohammad Saleem Jessar issued the notices on an application filed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) candidate Mohammed Younus, who lost to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate, Abdul Jabbar Khan, according to the unofficial/provisional results.

The petitioner contended that his polling agents were expelled from all polling stations and counting of votes was conducted in their absence. He stated that his polling agents were not provided forms 45 and 46 and their signatures were not taken on the ECP-prescribed packets of ballots.

He stated that he had requested the returning officer for recounting of votes on July 27 but the application was rejected. He said he also moved the ECP but in vain.

He prayed to court to order the recounting considering “a number of numerical, arithmetical and calculation mistakes in forms 48 and 49.”

Meanwhile, SHC’s Sukkur circuit bench comprising Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Khadim Hussain Tunio on Tuesday restrained the ECP from notifying the results of PS-21 Ghotki-IV from where PPP’s Ali Nawaz Khan aka Raja Khan Mahar was unofficially declared winner.

The bench issued notices to respondents on a petition filed by his nearest rival, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, a former PPP minister who quit the party to join Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) after failing to get a PPP ticket. He prayed to court to order recounting of votes considering the narrow margin between him and his rival candidate and alleged change of results.

He contended that the Form 45 of his constituency had fake signatures of the presiding officer and other officers concerned.

The matter was fixed for Aug 21.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2018