The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) restored on Friday the victory notifications of three Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates who won seats from Islamabad’s National Assembly constituencies of NA-46, NA-47 and NA-48.
The electoral watchdog upheld the victory of PML-N’s Anjum Aqeel from NA-46, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from NA-47 and Raja Khurram Nawaz from NA-48.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had challenged the victories of PML-N candidates based on alleged rigging during the February 8 general elections.
Chaudhry, speaking to the media, said that PTI was doing propaganda regarding the federal capital’s constituencies, adding that they submitted their Form 45 today and now the court had to prove whose forms were genuine.
The ECP on Tuesday reserved its decision in two cases regarding rigging in the Feb 8 general elections and postponed the hearing of three cases till Feb 27, seeking reports from the returning officers.
A two-member bench of the ECP comprising Nisar Durrani and Justice (retd) Ikramullah heard the application of Ayaz Ameer from NA-58 Chakwal.
Meanwhile, a two-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the petition of Alia Hamza from NA-118 Lahore.
Alia’s lawyer Raja Aamir Abbas submitted a letter of attorney, requesting that he be given a date to present his arguments. The ECP adjourned the hearing till Feb 27.
Similarly, the bench took up Yasmin Rashid’s plea against rigging in the NA-130 Lahore constituency. The bench sought a report from the returning officer and adjourned the hearing till Feb 27.
Earlier this week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the victory notifications of the PML-N candidates from the three Islamabad NA constituencies. A two-member division bench comprising Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir suspended the notification of the success of Anjum Aqeel Khan from NA-46, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary from NA 47, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz from NA-48.
During the hearing of intra-court appeals filed by Aamir Mughal, Shoaib Shaheen Advocate and Ali Bukhari against the election results, Shoaib Shaheen Advocate said that he received around 380 Forms 45 that night.
The complainant further informed the court that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) then issued an order to the RO to stop the final consolidation and sought a report within three days, but it has not been submitted yet.
The court then suspended the notification of the victory of the candidates of the three constituencies. The court’s decision followed intra-court appeals filed against the election results.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2024.
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