NA-46 re-election: Losing PTI candidate asks for recount

Says thumbprint verification should be done to verify voters.

PESHAWAR: Losing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate from NA-46, Khyber Agency has demanded that the Election Commission verify thumbprints and recount votes.

Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, PTI candidate Muhammad Iqbal Afridi claimed that fair and transparent elections were not held, even in the second round of polls held on Wednesday.

He alleged that the result was manipulated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shaukatullah Khan and the local administration.

During re-polling in 21 polling stations in NA-46 Bara on Wednesday, independent candidate Nasir Khan Afridi won with 4,028 votes against Afridi who bagged 3,547.



Iqbal said the results of the May 11 elections were changed while a large number of voters were not registered in the electoral rolls before re-polling.

Only 600 people voted although the total number of registered voters at the polling station for Jalozai IDPs was 28,000, he said. Iqbal added that in Samghkhi, in particular, a large number of voters were deprived from their right to vote when their names were not found in the electoral rolls.

“The election results are unacceptable to us,” said Iqbal, adding they had requested the Election Commission to take action after May 11 but no action was taken because of which the June 5 elections were also marred by rigging.

He warned if action is not taken against the rigging, they will resort to protests.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2013.