Election Commission of Pakistan building in Islamabad. Photo: Radio Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to conduct a recount at 39 polling stations in the PB-21 Hub constituency of the Balochistan Assembly, accepting the candidature of Ali Hasan Zehri.
The ECP took the decision on Wednesday by a majority of two members. ECP member Babar Hasan Bharwana disagreed and recommended fresh voting instead of recount at all 39 polling stations. The majority decision was delivered by members Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan.
In the majority order, the ECP directed the returning officer of PB-21 Hub to conduct the recount within three working days and give notice to all candidates or their agents before the recount.
The Balochistan government has been ordered to ensure foolproof security on the recount day. In his dissenting note, Babar Hasan Bharwana said re-polling should be conducted at all 39 polling stations instead of a recount.
On February 5, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) refused to grant leave to appeal in an election dispute related to the PB-21 Hub, as it upheld the decision of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), effectively approving the recount ordered by the ECP.
An FCC bench headed by Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petition filed by Muhammad Saleh Bhotani, who was initially declared a candidate for re-election in the February 8, 2024 general elections.
According to the filing, provisional results released via Form 47 showed Bhotani polled 30,910 votes, significantly ahead of runner-up Rajab Ali Rind and third-place candidate Ali Hassan Zehri.
However, Zehri later requested a recount, alleging irregularities including the expulsion of his poll workers from several polling stations, allegations of ballot tampering, and law and order problems in parts of the constituency.
