ECP denies receiving Rafique’s appeal for NA-131 recount

PMLN's Khawaja Saad Rafique lost to PTI chief Imran Khan in the initial count

LAHORE: The lawyer representing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said the polling body had not received an appeal from PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique for a recount of NA-131, the Lahore seat won by Imran Khan.

During the hearing at the Lahore High Court, the counsel also said that election results were compiled in the presence of Saad Rafique and his lawyers. Rafique’s counsel, however, argued that the ECP had ordered a recount in Aleem Khan’s NA-129 constituency in response to an application and that in many constituencies, the number of votes for the complainant had increased after a recount. Rafique’s application stated the court must order the recount in NA-131.

 



Rafique’s counsel added that the chief of the ECP has stated that recounting in the constituencies has been completed and will not be ordered again in constituencies.

Abid Sher Ali approaches LHC for recount

Abid Sher Ali filed an application in the LHC for a recount in his constituency of NA-108, which was won by Farrukh Habib. A recount in the constituency has already been conducted earlier on Thursday and there was no significant difference in the number of votes cast for the candidates.



Ali had claimed that ECP's form 45 was forged in favour of his rival and PML-N polling agents were kicked out while the votes were being counted. Ali requested the court to order a recount and issue a notification to halt Habib’s victory.