PHC suspends ECP order on recounting in PK-99

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday suspended an order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about the recounting of votes at eight polling stations in PK-99, Bannu.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Syed Arshad Ali issued a notice to the ECP to explain its position on the matter at the next hearing.

Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Zahidullah had filed the writ petition through his lawyers Shumail Ahmad Butt, Bashir Wazir and Abdul Rahim Jadoon.

His lawyer Shumail Ahmad Butt told the court that Zahidullah had been declared the winner on PK-99 and had been sworn in as MPA. However, he said the ECP ordered recounting on eight polling stations in the constituency after the losing candidate Sher Azam Wazir of JUIF submitted an application for this purpose. He pointed out that the ECP was not authorized to order recounting in the constituency after the formation of the appellate court. After hearing the arguments, the court issued a notice to ECP and suspended its order about recounting.