BAHAWALPUR: In the recounting process of the votes in NA-154 (Lodhran), the returning officer declared elected MNA Rana Faraz Noon of the PTI as the defeated candidate and announced the victory of PML-N’s Abdul Rehman Kanju.

The recount of votes was carried out on the application of Kanju who was declared winner with a margin of 7,301 votes.

According to RO Aamir Nazir Kichi’s announcement, Kanju secured 127,984 votes while Noon obtained 120,683 votes. Kanju’s 454 votes were declared invalid while Noon’s 14,254 voters were found to be invalid.

The RO said the presiding officers did not follow the polling process in letter and spirit. He said the POs had mixed up the ballot papers of PP-225 and PP-226 with NA-154 while some of them counted the ballot papers wrongly. He said departmental action would be taken against the POs who did not show responsibility during the counting.

Rana Faraz told the media a copy of the stay order of the LHC Bahawalpur Bench for recounting process was not received by his legal team and instead his men were made hostage and in the absence of his men, ballots were stamped to ensure victory of his opponent.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2024