Issuing a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday suspended the victory notification of PML-N’s Rana Muhammad Arshad, who, after recounting of votes, had been declared elected as an MPA from PP-133, Nankana Sahib, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Justice Shahid Kareem of the LHC heard the petition filed by Muhammad Atif, who had contested the election as an independent candidate.

In his petition, Atif said that the election commission had declared him a winner in the election held in the constituency on February 8, 2024. “However, on the request of Arshad, the ECP ordered the recounting of votes,” the petitioner said, adding, “After the votes were recounted, the returning officer notified the win of Arshad, saying he had defeated me by a lead of 2,571 votes.”  

Therefore, Atif said, it was prayed to the high court to declare the victory notification of the PML-N’s candidate null and void.

Arshad had emerged victorious after the recounting of votes in PP-133 a week ago showed that he had secured 44,323 votes, while the independent candidate Muhammad Atif received 41,632 votes.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf