NAWABSHAH, Oct 8: Ms Faryal Talpur of the People’s Party Parliamentarians was re-elected as nazim of the Nawabshah district after she won the toss against PML-backed candidate Khan Mohammad Dahri.

Ms Talpur has become the second district nazim of the PPP-backed ADP in Sindh after Malik Asad Sikandar who won the election in Jamshoro.

The Nawabshah district being a home district of Asif Ali Zardari is a stronghold of the PPP.

Ms Talpur was elected district nazim in 2001 whereas five MPAs and two MNAs of the PPP won in general elections 2002.

There was a tie between Faryal Talpur and Khan Mohammad Dahri in the third phase of local body election on October 6.

Each of them had obtained 328 votes.

Mr Dahri of the NAI filed an application before the returning officer and first additional district and session judge, Amjad Ali Qazi, for rechecking of votes which was rejected.

Votes of three polling stations — Daur, Sakrand and Daulatpur — were opened in the presence of both the candidates and their advocates in the chamber of the returning officer on Saturday.

Four of the rejected votes, one of Daulatpur, one of Sakrand and two of Daur were rechecked by candidates and found rightly rejected as each vote had stamped on both signs.

The RO Amjad Ali Qazi in presence of DRO Ghulam Qadir Leghari and local press after getting consent of the two candidates tossed a five rupee coin in which Faryal Talpur had chosen lucky heads.

Commenting on the toss result, Ms Talpur said she won with the grace of Allah and well wishes of people of the district.

She said she would continue to serve the people of her district and would carry out development works without any discrimination.

She in a huge procession of the PPP activists and leaders was taken to the Zardari House from where she left for Jam Saheb Dargah.

Immediately after the toss, Mr Dahri was also satisfied for his tails, saying it was a matter of luck. But later, he announced to challenge the decision in the Election Tribunal and the Sindh High Court.

Speaking at the press conference at the Dahri House, he said he filed an application before the RO and first additional district and session judge Amjad Ali Qazi for re-counting of all votes but the RO did not conduct recounting and opted for the toss after rechecking of rejected votes only.

The political adviser to the Sindh chief minister, Ghulam Rasool Unnar, newly-elected taluka nazim Abdul Rauf Khan of the MQM Haq Parast Group, general secretary PML district Nawabshah, Syed G.M. Shah, and others were also present on the occasion.