KASUR, Feb 26: The conflicting announcements of bypoll results for NA-140, Kasur 3, provoked a controversy forcing the Election Commission to cancel the results.

On Saturday evening, the district administration declared Malik Rasheed (independent) as winner with 45,974 votes and Azeemuddin Lakhvi (independent) as runner up with 45,672 votes.

Supporters of the losing candidate (Lakhvi), after announcements were made in mosques, reached the Election Commission and demanded recounting.

It was revealed that the district administration did not include the results of ‘nine polling stations’.

At 11pm on Saturday, the DCO office announced fresh results and declared Azeemuddin Lakhvi as winner with a margin of 264 votes.

The Election Commission office compiled the results at about 3am (between the night of Saturday and Sunday), according to which Malik Rasheed was declared winner with a close margin of 73 votes.

This situation allowed supporters of losing candidate (Lakhvi) to besiege the Election Commission office on Sunday morning.

They leveled allegations of rigging and demanded recounting of votes. They staged a sit-in on the main Ferozepur Road and chanted slogans against the district government and the Election Commission. They kept the road blocked for 10 hours, causing a great deal of inconvenience to commuters.

The situation remained tense outside the EC office which was guarded by heavy contingents of police and rangers throughout the day.

Supporters of both independent candidates were seen with clubs in their hands.

District officer Tahir Mansoor Khan told reporters that previous results had been cancelled after the controversy and recounting of votes would be done. A source told Dawn that there would be no change in the result announced by the EC and that the results could be announced early on Monday to avoid any clash between supporters of both candidates.

Meanwhile, Lakhvi boycotted the recount and left the election commission officer just after midnight.