Courts can’t abolish vote recount right: CJ

Isa-led bench hears PML-N Lodhran candidate’s plea

ISLAMABAD:

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday observed that the right to seek recount of votes was granted by the Parliament in the election laws and the court could not abolish it.

The chief justice was heading a three-member bench, which heard the appeal of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s candidate against the verdict of an election tribunal to set aside the Election Commission’s decision for the recount of votes in NA-154 Lodhran.

During the course of hearing, the chief justice said that the top court was scheduling election-related cases early. However, the cases got delayed because the lawyers usually did not prepare sufficiently, he added.

The CJP said, “If we start hearing every case for hours, then the number of pending cases will increase.”

The court consequently adjourned the case till July 8.

PML-N candidate from NA-154 (Lodhran) Abdul Rehman Kanju has challenged the verdict of election tribunal before the top court.

The election tribunal, in its decision, had annulled the victory notification of Abdul Rehman Kanju and declared an independent candidate Rana Faraz Noon as the winner.

The tribunal also set aside the ECP’s decision of recounting in the constituency.

Mr Kanju was defeated by Rana Faraz Noon from NA-154, with a margin of 6,499 votes.

In the recount, he was declared winner with a lead of 7,301 votes. According to Form-47, Mr Noon had secured 134,937 votes, which dramatically dropped to 120,683 in the recount.

Mr Kanju had obtained 128,438 votes, which were also slightly reduced to 127,984.