ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed a recount of votes in the PP-269 Muzaffargarh constituency by May 17.
Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz issued the written order following a petition filed by independent candidate Muhammad Iqbal. He asserted his victory based on Form 45 of the constituency.
According to the petitioner, Form 47 showed him securing 33,052 votes, coming second, while Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Mian Alamdar Abbas was declared the winner with 34,588 votes.
The petitioner informed the IHC that his challenge to the results and request for recounting of votes were accepted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). However, PPP’s Mian Alamdar Abbas resigned on March 20 to avoid the recount.
The court was petitioned to halt the by-election in the constituency and direct the ECP to conduct the recount. The IHC granted the request and ordered the recount to be completed by May 17.
Nevertheless, the court specified that if the results remain unchanged, a by-election should be conducted in the constituency.
