DERA GHAZI KHAN, Feb 21: Re-polling in nine polling stations of NA-171 and one polling station of NA-172 will be held tomorrow.

On both the seats, PML-Q stalwarts are leading by a thin lead.

The re-poll was ordered by the district returning officer on complaints of vote fraud by some presiding officers and candidates. Complaints were reported from six polling stations of NA-172 and 23 of (Tuman Buzdar + Tuman Qaisrani) NA-171.

But the DRO did not entertain all plaints, much to the disappointment of PPP and PML-N candidates.

The presiding officers of P/s 235, 239, 259, 248, 254 and 255 of tribal area said in their written complaints to the DRO that PML-Q supporters had cast bogus votes at gunpoint. The Tuman Leghari UC nazim and his men reportedly held the polling staff hostage to cast votes. Later, some masked gunmen deprived the polling staff of bags containing ballots and other material when they were on way to Dera Ghazi Khan.

On the evening of polling day, Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari of PML-Q and Hafiz Abdul Karim of PML-N were locked in a close contest for NA-172, with 43,582 and 42,347 votes, respectively. It is the first time in the electoral history of Dera that Farooq Ahmed Leghari was facing such a situation.

On the complaint of PML-N candidate, the Khar border military police station did register a case against nazim Zeeshan and his accomplices under section 171c/171d, 186, 7ATA and 353 but could not make any arrest.

In NA-171, Khawja Sheraz of PML-Q got 33,973 votes, his nearest rival Amjad Khosa (an independent) got 33,448 votes while Mir Badshah of PML-N got 31,683 votes.

Shabir Leghari of PPP told Dawn that the district returning officer had not entertained his application for re-polling in six polling stations of NA-172. He said the presiding officers of polling stations in question had also noted down wrongdoings in their reports on Feb 18.