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 PB-21 Hub constituency of Balochistan Assembly, accepting the request of Ali Hasan Zehri.
The ECP took the decision on Wednesday by a two-member majority. ECP member Babar Hasan Bharwana disagreed and recommended re-conducting the elections instead of a 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 the PB-21 Center to conduct the recount within three working days and to give prior notice to all candidates or their agents before the recount.
The Balochistan Government has been directed to ensure foolproof security on the counting day. In his dissenting note, Babar Hasan Bharwana stated that fresh elections should be held in all 39 polling stations instead of a recount.
On February 5, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) refused to grant permission to appeal in an election dispute relating to the PB-21 centre, as it upheld the decision of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), effectively upholding 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 had initially been declared a re-elected candidate in the February 8, 2024 general elections.
According to the filing, provisional results issued through Form-47 showed that Bhotani secured 30,910 votes, significantly ahead of second-placed candidate Rajab Ali Rind and third-placed candidate Ali Hassan Zehri.
However, Zehri later sought a recount, alleging irregularities including the expulsion of his polling agents from several polling stations, alleged ballot tampering and law and order issues in parts of the constituency.
