KARACHI: Pakistan Tehrek-eInsaf (PTI backed independent candidates from Karachi have challenged the provisional results of the Election Commission of Pakistan in the Sindh High Court (SHC).
Those who knocked at the door of the SHC are including former PTI provincial president Haleem Adil Sheikh contested from NA-238 (Karachi-East), Arsalan Khalid from NA-248 (Karachi-Central), and Advocate Khalid Mehmood from NA-231 (Malir).
As per details, each candidate filed separate petitions before the SHC, naming the ECP, provincial election commissioner, returning officers (ROs) concerned, inspector general of police, and others as respondents,.
The cases have been filed against the victories of Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Sadiq Iftikhar and Khalid Maqbool and Pakistan Peoples’ Party’s (PPP) Hakeem Baloch.
In their petitions, represented by lawyer Ali Tahir, the candidates argued that electoral laws were flouted and the entire election process was marred by rigging. They said that the seats as per the Form-45 obtained from polling stations. However, the Form-47 that consolidated the result of Form 45, declared the opponent contenders.
Furthermore, they claimed their polling agents were ejected from RO offices without explanation before the consolidation of results commenced.
The petitioners demanded the SHC to nullify the contested provisional results and instructed the respondents to prepare Form-47 anew in the presence of their polling agents, adhering to election rules.
Underlining the violation of electoral laws and constitutional provisions during the elections, the petitioners highlighted instances where they were poised for victory but were allegedly thwarted by irregularities.
The petitions are scheduled for hearing on Monday, with legal support from Advocate Jibran Nasir, who himself have lost the election on provincial assembly seat from PS-110.
