Justice Jilani directed recounting in all polling stations of the constituency. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The order came two days after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged protests outside Punjab Assembly and blocked the Mall Road, Lahore, against the alleged rigging in PP-150 during the by-elections.
The acting Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani, took suo motu notice of the protests and summoned all the candidates of the PP-150 constituency to Islamabad.
After hearing everyone’s point of view, Justice Jilani directed recounting in all polling stations of the constituency within three days.
PTI Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhary had filed a recounting application for PP-150, as soon as the results were announced, which was rejected by the returning officer. In response, PTI leaders and dozens of workers set up a hunger strike camp in front of the Punjab Assembly.
The protest camp at Charing Cross was uprooted by the police and PTI leaders and dozens of workers were arrested, however, they were released fairly quickly after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued an order in this regard.
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And if this was done for the constituencies that PTI complained about in the elections, around 25 NA seats in Punjab and 6 NA seats in Sindh would have been PTI's. Transparency is the need of the hour, whether PTI demands it or any other party is irrelevant. No govt. institution should deny transparency to the agreived party.
@HasBeen
If any polling agent has not signed the sheet, it is not valid. In this case, PTI should be pressing rigging charges not recount. And without counter signed copies, results can be over turned.
A recount request does not mean their agents did not sign the sheets. They are just hopng that recount might increase some and decrease some of opposing candidate.
@Justice Absolutley correct, by law Presiding Officer need to get the Result Sheet the official Form XVI signed by each polling agent and give a copy to each candidate. However, in reality for PP 150 this time and scores of constituencies in GE unfortunately, this did not happen. This is the simplest and oldest form of vote rigging where the PO does not give the individual polling station result on the official form but on a simple piece of paper. Thus the difference between what the candiates calculated result (and in modern times that publically announced by TV Channels) and the official 'post manipulation' result accounced by the Returning Officer. Trust me I have experence both as Polling Agent and Presiding Officer.
@Javed Latef & Justice:
There is something wrong with the people who don't allow for more transparency. If a candidate asks the RO for a recount, that is his right. Why do you people criticize someone asking for more transparency? PTI protested only once the recount was denied initially. It's not about if PTI or PMLN candidate wins. It's about reassuring voters that their votes actually mean something.
Please rise about the petty politics of parties and support more transparency; regardless of which party is asking for it. If I support PTI and a PMLN candidate asks for a recount on a seat that he/she lost then I should graciously accept it and support it. Rather then forcing them to go to streets.
Peace.
@naeem khan Manhattan
How is that PMLN candidate responsible for any wrong count? if at all it turns out to be wrong.
BTW, All presisding officers get vote counted and then get the result sheet signed by every polling agent of every candidate before leaving. every candidate has copy of that sheet from each polling station. We will find out soon who is wrong.
There is something wrong with PTI supporters.
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks:
You neglected to mention any punishment if the complaints are proven false.
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: quick question: do you think he would have done this on his own?
I wonder what either party, PTI or PMLN would say after any of them is proved wrong? Keeping facts in view the PTI contestant claimed he saw on paper the voter count in his favor?!