LOWER DIR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl candidate for the Timergara tehsil top slot Mufti Irfanuddin retained the seat after vote recount here on Wednesday.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Kashif Kamal, the son of MPA Shafiullah Khan, had challenged the victory of the JUI-F candidate.

In the recount, the JUI-F candidate was declared the winner again with a lead of 427 votes.

The workers of both the parties greeted each other after the recount results were announced by returning officer Tahir Ali.

Earlier, Mufti Irfan had won the seat with a lead of 433 votes on March 31.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party’s former MPA Mohammad Zamin Advocate on Wednesday demanded re-polling in the Balambat tehsil.

Talking to mediapersons in Odigram, he alleged that government machinery and resources were used for the PTI candidate in the constituency.

He said gas pipes were laid, wells were dug and streets were paved overnight in order to get the ruling party candidate elected on tehsil top slot.

He said the local election commission officials were contacted, but they were unable to address the grievances of the opposition.

The PPP leader claimed the PTI MPAs had influenced the recently-held local body polls to get elected the party ticket holders. He said the election commission should take notice and announce re-polling in the tehsil.

Separately, a pick-up vehicle going to Khadang area from Talash Bazaar plunged into a ravine in a mountainous area here on Wednesday, injuring 20 people, including women and children.

The injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Talash, where their condition is stated to be out of danger.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2022