SIALKOT: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has put a hold on the final outcome of the NA-71 constituency, where Khawaja Asif of the PML-N was declared the victor in the February 8 elections.
The ECP has requested a report from the relevant returning officer (RO) in light of accusations regarding irregularities and inconsistencies in the voting process.
In Islamabad, the commission has postponed the hearing regarding this issue until February 14, following an application submitted by Rehana Dar, a candidate supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the NA-71 Sialkot constituency. The commission has issued a notice to the RO concerning Rehana Dar’s plea and awaits a response.
According to Rehana Dar’s legal representative, disparities were observed between the results documented in Form 45 and Form 47. Allegedly, Form 45 suggested a victory for Dar with a margin of 50,000 votes, while Form 47 prepared by the RO purportedly indicated a defeat by 47,000 votes.
Additionally, it was pointed out that a revised Form 47 was posted on the election commission’s website on Monday afternoon, raising concerns about the consistency of the electoral data.
During the hearing, when questioned about the impact of the updated Form 47 on their plea, Rehana Dar’s attorney affirmed that their request remained unchanged despite the revision.
The decision to pause the results and defer the hearing underscores the Election Commission’s dedication to ensuring fairness and transparency in the electoral process. As interested parties await further developments, the actions of the Commission emphasize the significance of addressing allegations of irregularities to maintain the integrity of the electoral system.
Further updates on the matter are expected as the Election Commission awaits the RO’s response and proceeds with its inquiry into the contested results of NA-71.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
