ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday disposed of Federal Minister for Privatization and PTI candidate, MNA Muhammad Mian Soomro appeal on recounting of votes.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial conducted hearing of the Muhammad Mian Soomro’s appeal against the election tribunal decision. The bench noted that the votes’ recounting has been completed. The minister’s counsel said that during recount many bags were not opened. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah asked the lawyer that when his client has been declared winner then why he still has objection.
Federal Minister for Privatization and PTI candidate, MNA Muhammad Mian Soomro, won Jacobabad’s NA-196 constituency following recounting of votes by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Muhammad Mian Soomro bagged 83,083 votes while PPP’s Aijaz Jakhrani bagged 79,187 votes in recounting from 441 polling stations. In recounting 3,117 votes of Soomro and 2,612 votes of Jakhrani were rejected. The ballot papers and polling record of 31 polling stations were missing and could not be recounted.
The representatives of the PTI candidate in recounting had alleged that vote bags and envelopes were broken and other election material was missing. “The election tribunal’s order has been verbal and no written order has been issued yet,” they said.
On January 10, an election tribunal had dismissed a petition filed by Muhammad Mian Soomro seeking to stop the recount. The tribunal directed the PTI MNA to approach the Supreme Court against its verdict. The tribunal directed the ECP to implement its decision within a week and furnish a compliance report.
