MUZAFFARGARH: PPP MPA Mian Alamdar Abbas Qureshi has resigned from PP-269 Muzaffargarh before the recount of votes in the constituency and the Punjab Assembly has reportedly approved his resignation.

Speaking to Dawn, Qureshi confirmed that he had resigned from the constituency. Sources in his close circles say that he resigned from the constituency, complying with the opinion of his party.

The recount in the constituency was ordered by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the request of the losing candidate Iqbal Khan Pitafi. The commission had asked the district returning officer, Deputy Commissioner Mian Usman Ali, to recount votes cast in seven polling stations of PP-269.

The recount could not be held due to various reasons. The date of recount of votes was changed again and again. After his resignation, the ECP would decide on either the recount or new election for the provincial assembly’s constituency.

If ECP announces the date of election, Qureshi will be the candidate of the PPP and PML-N, others, including Iqbal Khan Pitafi, would be independent candidates while Rashid Khulang would be the Sunni Ittehad Council candidate.

Earlier, the newly-appointed Returning Officer Nasir Shahzad Dogar said the recount would take place on March 27 and that the date was changed on request of Alamdar Abbas Qureshi who was first not fit to attend the recounting and then he was not present in the city. On another occasion, the RO was not present due to bad health and he later resigned from the post.

On Saturday yet again when the recount was to be held, Qureshi said he was in Islamabad and the date was moved to March 27.

According to the rules of the ECP, the presence of all the parties concerned was a must in the recount.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2024