Challenging the mandate: Recounting, verification of votes ordered in PK-90
PPP candidate’s counsel says his client lost with a margin of only seven votes.
According to the ECP, Ghulam Muhammad of APML won from PK-90 with 10,848 votes followed by Sardar Hussain of PPP with 10,841 votes. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
PESHAWAR:
An election tribunal on Monday ordered recounting of postal ballots along with verification of all rejected votes in PK-90 Chitral. A commission was also formed to report in the next hearing.
The order was passed by Judge Shah Jee Rehman while hearing a petition filed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Syed Sardar Hussain, who was the runner-up for the seat in the May 11 general elections.
Syed Ghufran Ullah, the applicant’s lawyer, informed the court his client lost the seat with a difference of seven votes. According to Section 39 (3) of The Representation of the People Act, 1976, if the rejected votes are equal or more than the difference of votes between the winner and runner-up candidates, the authority can order recounting, the lawyer added.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Ghulam Muhammad of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) won from PK-90 with 10,848 votes followed by Sardar Hussain of PPP with 10,841 votes. This is the only provincial assembly seat won by the APML in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Ghufran Ullah told the court four votes for Hussain were found in the ballot box for the National Assembly, claiming they were deposited in the wrong box by mistake. “There are 2,995 rejected votes in the constituency, while 3,000 were cast by post. The rejected votes should be verified and recounting should be done on ballots cast by post,” he added.
After hearing the arguments, the tribunal ordered recounting of postal ballots and verification of rejected votes. It also ordered constitution of a commission for this purpose and adjourned the case till September 12.
Services of the winning candidate will remain suspended till a decision is reached in the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.
An election tribunal on Monday ordered recounting of postal ballots along with verification of all rejected votes in PK-90 Chitral. A commission was also formed to report in the next hearing.
The order was passed by Judge Shah Jee Rehman while hearing a petition filed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Syed Sardar Hussain, who was the runner-up for the seat in the May 11 general elections.
Syed Ghufran Ullah, the applicant’s lawyer, informed the court his client lost the seat with a difference of seven votes. According to Section 39 (3) of The Representation of the People Act, 1976, if the rejected votes are equal or more than the difference of votes between the winner and runner-up candidates, the authority can order recounting, the lawyer added.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Ghulam Muhammad of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) won from PK-90 with 10,848 votes followed by Sardar Hussain of PPP with 10,841 votes. This is the only provincial assembly seat won by the APML in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Ghufran Ullah told the court four votes for Hussain were found in the ballot box for the National Assembly, claiming they were deposited in the wrong box by mistake. “There are 2,995 rejected votes in the constituency, while 3,000 were cast by post. The rejected votes should be verified and recounting should be done on ballots cast by post,” he added.
After hearing the arguments, the tribunal ordered recounting of postal ballots and verification of rejected votes. It also ordered constitution of a commission for this purpose and adjourned the case till September 12.
Services of the winning candidate will remain suspended till a decision is reached in the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.