-PTI files application to declare NA-249 by-polls illegal
-PPP says defeat has become PML-N’s destiny
-PML-N secures victory in Khushab by-elections
From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Four political parties, including the PTI, the PML-N, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), announced on Thursday a boycott of the recounting of votes in Karachi’s NA-249 constituency.
The parties accused the returning officer (RO) of failing to provide the Form 45 and Form 46 and breaking the seal of the ballot bag.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, PML-N candidate Miftah Ismail stated that the RO had refused to give the Form 45 and Form 46, adding that a full audit was also refused.
Unused ballots were not counted and signatures weren’t shown either, he claimed. “When we asked why there was no seal on the first ballot bag brought in, we were told that it might have fallen down,” he said. “I am not boycotting the recount alone. The MQM, the PSP and the PTI have all come out.”
He stated that one seat made no difference, however, it was a matter of the sanctity of the vote. “What problem do they have in correctly counting the votes?”
Meanwhile, the RO said that the recount process would continue despite the boycott. Speaking to the media, he said that Ismail was demanding a “re-assessment of the documents” which couldn’t take place here. Therefore, the recount process had been initiated in the presence of the winning PPP candidate and others, he said. MQM candidate Muhammad Mursaleen also said that the party had boycotted the recount process and that there was no seal on the ballot bag. “The ballot bag had been tied with a rope.”
PTI files application to declare by-poll illegal: PTI’s Amjad Iqbal Afridi also filed an application, urging the ECP to declare the by-election void and “illegal due to pre-poll rigging, election day rigging and post-poll rigging”.
