Pronouncing the reserved verdict, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday barred the returning officer (RO) in NA-15, Mansehra from issuing the final result of the election in the constituency, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A four-member bench of the ECP, headed by chief election commissioner (CEC), heard the plea filed by Captain (r) Safdar on behalf of former prime minister and PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif, in which he had challenged the election results, saying they were changed.

The PML-N supremo had lost the election by a heavy margin.

During the hearing, Nawaz’s lawyer told the bench that his client was not given Form 47 of 125 polling stations in the constituency. “And Form 47 cannot be issued without first issuing Form 45,” he argued.

“Kala Dhaka is a quite backward area which also receives heavy snowfall,” he added.  

He went on to say that the presiding officers had evicted the polling agents. “Holding free and fair elections is the responsibility of the ECP,” the lawyer said, adding, “Unfortunately, the election held in the constituency was not fair.”

Therefore, it was prayed to the bench to order the RO not to issue the notification.

Speaking on the occasion, Captain (r) Safdar said that the RO had fainted and was currently admitted to hospital.

The ECP also barred the RO in NA-46 from notifying the success of any candidate after the independent candidate, Amir Mughal, challenged Form 47.  

The commission issued same instructions to the ROs in NA-47 and NA-48.

Captain (r) Safdar claims Nawaz’s victory

Later talking to the media, Captain (r) Safdar said that Nawaz had won the seat. “And that’s what we have to prove in the election commission,” he said, adding, “The real symbol is of ‘Sher’ (lion),” he asserted.

Reporter: Usman Khan