ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq has said that the EC has fulfilled its duty of holding free, fair and transparent general elections across the country in a peaceful environment.

Addressing a press conference after the close of polling, he appreciated the role of media in encouraging the voters to cast their votes. Qazi Farooq announced some of the provisional results.

Answering question regarding the incidents of violence, he said such incidents were normal during elections. He, however, said that these incidents had taken place outside polling stations.

When asked about the possibility of recounting of votes following complaints of rigging at some polling stations, Qazi Farooq said the EC would take a decision about it.

He announced official results of NA-43 and 44 and also of PB-1. According to the results, independent candidate Shaukatullah won from NA-43 Fata with 7,428 votes; Syed Akhund Zada, independent, secured 6,257 votes to win the NA-44 Fata-9 seat while Shafiq Ahmed Khan was declared winner from PB-1.

Earlier, in a brief chat with newsmen during a visit to different polling stations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, he said there was no provision under the law for re-polling in the constituencies where the turnout was low.