ECP orders recount in NA-79, Gujranwala

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday allowed a recount in NA-79, Gujranwala, and directed the returning officer concerned to issue a fresh Form 49 to the winning candidate after the recount.

An ECP three-member bench, headed by the chief election commissioner, ordered the recount while accepting the request of the PMLN candidate and said in its written decision that the returning officer should hold the recount and issue Form 49 in two days.

“Now, therefore, the commission in exercise of powers under Article 218 (3) of the Constitution read with Section 4, 8 (b) & (c) and 95 of the Elections Act 2017 directs the returning officer to recount votes of the constituency including rejected votes in presence of the petitioner and other contesting candidates within two days and submit a report along with revised Form-49 to the commission.

Thereafter, the officer is directed to issue a notification of the returned candidate accordingly,” the order reads.

The electoral body said the notification of the successful candidate be issued after the recount because the Supreme Court of Pakistan had given the ECP the authority to order a recount.

The order said that in the recount, the returning officer should also scrutinize rejected votes.

It should be remembered that PTI-backed candidate Ehsanullah Virk had returned from NA-79, and against him, PMLN candidate Zulfiqar Ali Bhinder requested a recount.