ECP to issue interim order regarding stay on NA-15 Mansehra results today

CEC tells Nawaz’s lawyer ‘cannot continue stay indefinitely’, asks to prepare for arguments for tomorrow’s hearing

ISLAMABAD:

The ECP observed on Monday that it will be issuing an interim order today regarding the stay on releasing the final results for NA-15 Mansehra.

The electoral watchdog heard PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s plea against election results from the seat. He has contested PTI-backed independent candidate Shahzada Gustasap Khan's success from the constituency following the Feb 8 elections.

The hearing was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The CEC observed that the ECP cannot continue the stay for an indefinite period.

“Sometimes you are late, sometimes you don't come prepared,” the CEC reprimanded Nawaz's lawyer.

Earlier during the hearing, the former premier’s counsel told the ECP that they had still not received the RO’s [returning officer] report.

PTI-backed candidate’s counsel Babar Awan however argued that, “We won with a margin of 25,000 votes.” He maintained that, as per the law, a recounting of votes cannot be ordered on such a huge margin.

Awan brought up the matter of the ECP’s stay on issuing the final results from the constituency till the matter was decided.

Read ECP restores victory notifications of PML-N candidates from Islamabad

Addressing Nawaz’s lawyer, the CEC said the watchdog will lift the stay today, asking the former to present arguments on the case after receiving the RO’s report.

The ECP adjourned the hearing for a short time following these arguments. When it reconvened, it instructed Nawaz’s counsel to prepare to present arguments in the case at the next hearing.

“We cannot stay the notification for long,” CEC Raja stated. He ordered ECP officials to provide all relevant records to Nawaz's lawyers.

The PML-N supremo’s lawyer requested the court to give a date for final arguments but not lift the injunction on the notification. He requested the watchdog to adjourn the hearing till the day after tomorrow.

However, the ECP adjourned the hearing only till tomorrow.

Last week, the ECP dismissed Nawaz’s application to stop the notification of the results of NA-15 Mansehra, with orders to refile it.

A two-member bench, headed by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the complaints of candidates who had challenged the election results.

Nawaz’s lawyer did not appear before the bench and the NA-15 Mansehra RO while submitting his report to the commission said the constituency’s result had been compiled as per Form 45.

The ECP bench rejected the PML-N supremo’s application to stop the notification of the successful candidate, directing his lawyer to file it again.

Three days after the Feb 8 elections, the ECP had directed the RO to not issue the final result for NA-15 Mansehra, after PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif challenged it.