Musical chairs: PML-N bags NA-19

PTI’s Raja Amir Zaman defeated by Omar Ayub after re-polling at seven stations in Haripur.

HARIPUR: After a long battle lasting eight months, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Omar Ayub Khan emerged victorious against his nemesis from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dr Raja Amir Zaman, after re-polling at seven polling stations of NA-19 on Wednesday.

According to unofficial results, Omar secured 2,506 votes while Zaman bagged 2,059.

During the general elections last year, Zaman had defeated Omar with a lead from these seven polling stations which saw re-election. After Omar challenged the results, a recount was ordered wherein Zaman again emerged victorious. Omar then challenged the results one more time and moved the election tribunal for re-polling at the seven polling stations. His request was subsequently accepted.

According to unofficial results, Zaman lost during Wednesday’s re-polling at the two polling stations in Khalabat Township, and one each in Alooli, Bagra, Kalinjar and Hamlet Ghazi. He, however, won from his native polling station in Mamrial village, securing 810 votes against Omar’s 380. There were 9,198 registered voters in the seven polling stations.

Meanwhile, polling was suspended for over an hour at Hamlet Ghazi polling station after an argument between the two candidates. Both accused each other of violating the election code of conduct, but police officials intervened and averted a possible clash. Some women voters complained their votes had already been cast when they went to cast the ballot.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2014.