Elections in Pakistan: Many candidates challenge the election results in court on the grounds of fraud
The coming days are expected to witness 'hectic legal activity' as several general election results are challenged in the Supreme Court.
Elections in Pakistan with accusations of manipulation: The general elections in Pakistan took place on February 8 and the results were announced on February 9. Even though reports on the exact numbers of winners and losers are conflicting, former prime ministers, Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif's parties (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)) are making claims of the majority needed to form the new government.
Now, on Saturday, February 10, 2024, a media report suggests that the coming days are expected to witness 'hectic legal activities' as several general election results, which show PML-N candidates as winners, are before the high courts are challenged. with opponents claiming their defeat was the result of “manipulation,” according to a media report on Saturday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) affiliated independent candidates have moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the results of PP-164 and NA-118, where father-son duo, Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz, the won, ARY News reported.
In his petition, independent candidate Yousuf Mio, who contested against Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML) President Shehbaz Sharif, alleged that the Returning Officer (RO) did not allow the petitioner to enter the office.
“The results were declared in the absence of the petitioner,” the petition said, urging the court to direct the RO to declare the results as per Form-45.
Meanwhile, Alia Hamza's husband, whose wife Hamza Shehbaz contested, contested the result, noting that the PML-N candidate had lost the election as per Form-45.
On the other hand, Yasmeen Rashid also challenged former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's victory in Lahore's NA-130 constituency at the Lahore High Court, ARY News reported.
Another independent candidate, Shehzad Farooq, challenged Maryam Nawaz's success in Lahore's NA-119, while PML-N winner Ata Tarar's success in NA-127 was also challenged in court by PTI-backed independent nominee Zaheer Abbas Khokhar.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Advocate Gohar claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan will decide who will become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan as the party claims to be in a strong position after winning 170 National Meetings. seats out of 265 contested in the general election.
“Imran Khan will decide who will be the next Prime Minister. He is the leader whether he is in jail or outside,” Gohar said at a press conference here in Islamabad, the report said.
The party claims to be in a strong position after winning 170 seats in the National Assembly out of 265 contested. “Of these, 94 are those whom the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) admitted and issued Form-47,” Gohar said, adding that in 22 other seats where PTI had won, the victory “was turned into defeat. ,” reported Express Tribune.
Pakistan's parliamentary elections were the most tense in recent years, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan jailed and his arch-rival Nawaz Sharif appearing to be the favorite of the powerful military-led establishment.
Early results show Khan's anointed candidates doing better than expected after a polarized campaign riddled with accusations of manipulation and still without a clear winner, The Express Tribune reported.
Earlier on Friday, Pakistan's three-time prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief said his party emerged as the largest party and aims to lead the country to prosperity while developing peaceful relations. with neighboring countries.
'I see the spark of happiness in your eyes. This spark calls for recovery of a 'wounded' Pakistan. It requires development to transform Pakistan into a beautiful country,” Sharif said while addressing a large gathering in Lahore on Friday, where he vowed to develop schools and hospitals in the country and work to combat inflation and unemployment in the crisis-stricken country.
“We have to do such a job that no one would feel the pain while paying electricity and gas bills, or while buying petrol and diesel, or paying school fees. There must be employment for the people. We will distribute laptops to students, build schools and toilets and distribute free medicines in hospitals,” Sharif said.
In a veiled reference to India, Sharif also pledged that he wants peaceful relations with everyone, including neighbors.
“The light will return, unemployment will be eradicated and the poor will be able to do so. The situation of the country will improve. And we want our relations to remain good both with the world and with our neighbors. We will improve our relations with them and resolve our differences,” he added.
(With input from the agency)