Pakistan

ECP stops announcements in 26 poll results

Results withheld on challenges mounted by PTI, other candidates

Waqas Ahmed February 11, 2024

Workers seal election papers with wax at a polling station in a school during the general election, in Islamabad, February 8, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stopped on Sunday the announcement of final results of 10 National Assembly and 16 provincial assembly constituencies across the country and ordered re-polling at 53 polling stations in three constituencies.

The ECP took up dozens of petitions, challenging the election results of various national and provincial assembly constituencies. Simultaneously, several other petitions were also filed in different high courts, which would be taken up on Monday.

While hearing the petitions, the ECP barred the returning officers concerned not to issue the notification of the success of any candidate from NA-15, Mansehra, NA-28, NA-49 and NA 50 in Attock, NA-55, Rawalpindi, NA-63 and NA-65 in Gujrat, and NA-47 and NA-48, Islamabad.

Similarly, after hearing the petitions, the ECP stopped the announcement of results of against the results of the Punjab Assembly’s constituencies of PP-73, PP-79, PP-80 and PP 82 and others. The results of PP-11, PP-20, PP-14, PP-16, PP-31, PP-33, and PP-59 have also been challenged.

Meanwhile, after objections from candidates and the matter being taken to the courts, the ECP halted the results of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s constituencies of PK-73, PK-79, PK-80, and PK-82. From Balochistan, the result of PB-1 had been challenged.

Also, the ECP withheld the results in NA-88 Khushab, PS-18 Ghotki-I, and PK-90 Kohat-I and directed re-polling at 53 polling stations in these constituencies. The results of these constituencies would be announced after re-polling on February 15, a spokesperson said.

In Sindh, Meanwhile, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Sunday that his party would challenge Karachi's election results in the Sindh High Court on Monday. He added that he would also write a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on the matter.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)