LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday suspended the proceedings for vote recount in the provincial assembly constituency, PP-59, Gujranwala, and sought replies from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and others.

Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza passed the stay order on a petition by PTI-backed independent candidate Nasir Cheema, who was declared winner from PP-56.

He was aggrieved by proceedings before the ECP on an application of his rival candidate Bilal Tarar of the PML-N, seeking recounting of votes in the constituency.

Petitioner’s counsel Faisal Farid argued that the ECP had no jurisdiction to entertain the application of the respondent/defeated candidate. He said the commission unlawfully issued a notice to the petitioner.

He asked the court to set aside the proceedings before the ECP.

On behalf of the federation, Assistant Attorney General Sheraz Zaka supported the petitioner’s case saying consolidation of the results had already taken place, therefore, recounting proceedings before the ECP were illegal, keeping in view section 95(6) of Election Act 2017.

He pointed out that election tribunals comprising LHC judges had already been constituted to hear the challenges against the election results.

Justice Mirza issued notices to the respondents for April 24 and suspended the proceedings before the ECP on the vote recount application.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2024