PESHAWAR: More than 16 candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have lodged appeals against the results of the February 8 general elections in the election tribunals. Interestingly, all complainants are independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who lost these seats.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reported that independent candidates have contested the results of 3 national and 13 provincial constituencies in KP.
Cases have been filed against the results of NA-28 Peshawar, won by JUI-F’s Noor Alam. PTI-backed candidate Sajid Nawaz challenged the results, claiming victory based on Form 45. PTI candidates also contested the victories of Amir Muqam from NA-11 Shangla and JUI-F’s Misbahuddin from NA-40 North Waziristan, where Mohin Dawar secured second position.
Peshawar, the provincial capital, has emerged as a major focal point of dispute, with appeals filed against the outcomes of eight provincial constituencies: PK-20, PK-21, PK-73, PK-74, PK-75, PK-78, PK-79, PK-80, and PK-82.
Similarly, the election results for two constituencies in Bannu, PK-101 and PK-102, have also been contested in court, with independent candidates rejecting the outcomes.
In PK-74, Ijaz Muhammad of JUI-F emerged as the candidate, while in PK-73, Arbab Waseem Khan of PTI-P was the victorious candidate.
PK-78 witnessed Zahir Khan of PML-N securing victory with 22,559 votes, defeating PTI’s Muhammad Asim Khan, who garnered 17,125 votes.
Arbab Waseem Khan also clinched victory in PK-75 with 44,564 votes, surpassing PTI’s Malik Shahab Hussain, who obtained 26,126 votes.
In PK-80, Arbab Zarak Khan of PPP won with 23,311 votes, defeating PTI’s Hamid ul Haq, who garnered 10,251 votes. Additionally, Malik Tariq Awan emerged victorious against PTI’s Kamran Bangsh from PK-82, securing 20,333 votes compared to Bangesh’s 14,030 votes.
PK-101 was secured by JUIP’s Adnan Khan with 25,513 votes, triumphing over the PTI-backed candidate Shah Mahmmad Khan, who received 21,369 votes.
Finally, in PK-102, former KP CM Ikram Khan Durrani emerged victorious with 39,061 votes, while PTI candidate Malik Adnan Khan, who secured 35,825 votes, contested the results.
The ECP confirmed that independent candidates have challenged the results and submitted petitions to the court seeking the annulment of results in these constituencies.
It’s worth noting that numerous candidates nationwide have levied explicit accusations of electoral malpractice in the February 8 general elections.
It is pertinent to mention here that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly elections were held on 112 out of 115 seats on February 8. PTI-backed candidates emerged victorious by securing 91 seats, followed by JUI-F with seven seats, PML-N won five seats, PPP three, PTI-P two, and ANP 1 seat.
