PML-N’s ‘strongman’ Nisar loses to PTI in recount

Daily Times

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s stalwart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lost to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Siddiqui Khan in the recount of votes for PP-7, Rawalpindi constituency of the Punjab Assembly over rigging claims. In the earlier result, Nisar was declared winner by a small margin. Siddiqui filed an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for a vote recount. After recounting of votes of six polling stations of the provincial assembly constituency, Nisar was defeated by a thin margin. The counting was done in the presence of neutral lawyers and media persons. This development has further strengthened the PTI demand for re-polling in constituencies where discrepancies were recorded in the polling process. In initial counting of votes, Chaudhry Nisar got a lead of 614 votes and won the seat. Meanwhile, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Ishtiak Ahmad Khan on Thursday termed the allegations of rigging in elections as baseless, arguing that international observers have declared them free, fair and transparent. Talking to media, he said, “It is unfortunate that international observers and foreign countries are congratulating Pakistan for holding free, fair and transparent elections but we are doubting its credibility.” He said US President Barack Obama and other international leaders have congratulated Pakistan for holding elections and wanted to improve friendly ties. He said the commission had received 110 complaints of rigging during the last three days and after summary, inquiry orders have been issued for re-polling wherever it was necessary. He said election tribunals were now bound to dispose of complaints and petitions within 120 days. The secretary said ECP was empowered to open bags containing ballots, go for recounting and verify thumb impressions of voters. To a question, he said first there had been rumours that elections would not be held on time or there would be violence on the polling day but everything was done peacefully. He said that according to law, the president was bound to summon National Assembly session within 21 days and it was expected that the first session of the House would be held on June 1. To a question, he said thumb impressions would be validated if commission considered necessary after the inquiry. About Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) claims of 100 percent plus turnout in some specific constituencies, he said, turnout in those constituencies was 42 percent and 74 percent. Also, the election commission on Thursday asked the independent candidates to join a political party within three days of the publication of winners’ names in official gazette. “The independent returned candidates are required to apply, after notification to the leader of the political party for joining his party and the leader of the political party forthwith is required to inform the election commission of his joining through a letter to be delivered to the election commission in terms of sub-rule (5) of rule 3 of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies Allocation of Reserved Seats for Women and non-Muslims (Procedure) Rules, 2002” said a notification issued by the ECP. The ECP secretary quoted sub-clause (d) of Clause (6) of Article 51 of the constitution, which provides that the members to fill seats reserved for women which are allocated to a province shall be elected through proportional representation system of political parties’ lists of candidates on the basis of total number of general seats won by each political party from the province concerned in the National Assembly.