LHC suspends PP-59 vote recounting

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order for a recount of votes in Punjab Assembly’s PP-59 constituency.

A single-member bench comprising Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza issued the stay order while hearing a petition filed by PTI-backed MPA Nasir Mahmood Cheema.

Cheema emerged victorious from the constituency in the February 8 general elections. However, the ECP ordered a recount of votes at the constituency upon the request of PML-N’s Bilal Farooq Tarar, the runner-up candidate.

Cheema later challenged the ECP order in the LHC. On Monday, Nasir Mahmood Cheema's lawyer, Faisal Chuadhry Advocate, argued that the ECP could not order a recount of votes in a constituency after notifying the winning candidate.

The LHC suspended the ECP's order and directed it to submit a reply to the petition.