Disposing of MQM's plea, ECP declares Ghani victorious from PS-114

The party had challenged Ghani's win in ECP claiming widespread rigging took place during the July 9 election

ISLAMABAD: More than 10 days after the by-election on Sindh Assembly's PS-114 seat, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared Pakistan Peoples Party’s Saeed Ghani victorious from the constituency.

The ECP issued the notification on Thursday after disposing of a plea of Muttahida Qaumi Movement candidate Kamran Tessori who had challenged Ghani’s win immediately after the unofficial results started pouring in, alleging that the polls were rigged and the Sindh government used its machinery and police to ensure the victory.

By-election on the constituency, which fell vacant after its MPA Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Irfanullah Marwat was disqualified by the ECP in 2014, was held on July 9. The winning candidate, Ghani, bagged 23,840 votes while the runner-up MQM-P’s Tessori got 18,106 votes in 92 polling stations across the constituency.



The MQM then approached the ECP alleging rigging and asked for a recount of the votes of the entire constituency. The ECP had on June 13 issued a stay on the notification declaring the former senator's victory while it heard the MQM’s plea.

On Thursday the ECP disposed of MQM’s plea and sent the matter to an election tribunal, while issuing the official notification for Ghani’s win.

Ghani bid farewell to the Senate in an emotional speech and also thanked his supporters and colleagues on Twitter.

After ECP notification, left the Senate hall. Thank u all senators, staff & media 4 ur support during my days in Isd. pic.twitter.com/vwhGOhm69B

— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) July 20, 2017