The Sindh High Court, on Friday, halted an Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) directive regarding the recounting of votes for the provincial assembly seat, PS-112 (Keamari-II).
The initial victor, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-supported independent candidate Sirbuland Khan, secured 16,287 votes, defeating Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Asif Khan, who received 10,784 votes.
On April 1, the ECP mandated a recount of votes from 26 polling stations within the constituency.
Following the recount on April 4, PPP’s Asif Khan emerged as the new winner, as per an ECP official.
Meanwhile, the PTI candidate contested the ECP’s recount order before the SHC.
Advocate Ali Tahir argued that the petitioner had already assumed office as an MPA after winning the election. Despite this, the ECP ordered a recount based on a request from rival candidate Asif.
The counsel highlighted that according to Section 95(6) of the Election Act, 2019, the ECP lacked authority to recount votes once the results had been consolidated.
Following a preliminary hearing, a two-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, directed, “Pre-admission notices to respondents, as well as the advocate general Sindh and deputy attorney general, are to be issued for April 18, 2024. Comments/replies, if any, shall be filed by then, with an advance copy provided to the petitioner’s counsel. Meanwhile, the operation of the contested order shall remain suspended until the next hearing.”
The ECP official informed Dawn that the matter would be reviewed on Monday in light of the court’s interim ruling.
