The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif regar­ding the NA-15 Man­sehra constituency till Tuesday.

Both Nawaz Sharif’s lawyer Barrister Jahangir Jadoon and independent candidate Gustasab Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan appeared before the bench. Mr Jadoon maintained that the returning officer’s report had not been given to them and that without reading the report, they could not give arguments.

To this, Babar Awan said that the report of RO was received by everyone. Gustasab Khan won with a lead of 25,000 votes and according to the law, if there was a difference of 25,000, then the recount could not be done. He said the ECP had stayed the issuance of notification of the returned candidate.

CEC Raja said the stay could not be extended for mere arguments as the ECP wanted to end the stay as soon as possible. The CEC directed Mr Jadoon to present arguments on Tuesday. CEC Raja said that an interim order would be issued on the request to end the stay, as the stay could not be postponed indefinitely.

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