KARACHI, Aug 31: The candidates of two rival panels, Al-Khidmat and Awam Dost, contesting for the slots of nazim in UC-10, Clifton, Saddar Town have appealed to higher authorities to take all records pertaining to the election of nazim/naib-nazim panel in the UC to ensure that no one tampered with the record of ballot papers before recounting.

Malik Masood-ur-Rehman and Syed Najmi Alam, candidates for the office of nazim from Al-Khidmat and Awam Dost panels respectively, said this in an emergency press conference on Wednesday.

They pointed out that the chief election commissioner had ordered recounting in all polling stations of UC-10 on their application.

They said they received notices signed by the Returning Officer VIIth Additional District and Sessions Judge, Karachi South, Ms Munawwar Sultana, on Aug 30 to appear for the recounting of votes on Aug 31 at 4pm.

But when they reached the place, the RO refused to recognize the notice issued from the office under her signature.

Elections on Aug 18 in UC 10 were contested by five panels including the Al-Khidmat, Awam Dost and Haq Parast.

During the press conference, copies of the result signed by the presiding officer of PS-1 were also distributed.

According to the paper, the total number of votes cast at PS-1 of UC-10 was 307. Out of the total, 147 votes were cast in favour of Muhammad Khalil, 82 to Malik Masood-ur-Rehman, and 54 to Syed Najmi Alam.

According to the total number of votes, Malik Masood-ur-Rehman was winner followed by Syed Najmi Alam and Muhammad Khalil in second and third place respectively.

But in Form 13, the total number of votes cast was increased from 307 to 607 and the number of votes cast in favour of Muhammad Khalil was shown as 447 instead of 147. This jump of 300 votes within a night changed the entire result.

They said that if the EC’s letter was not authenticated why were they issued notices and under whose pressure was the recounting was stopped.