The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) made a decision on Sunday about the election in NA-15, Mansehra. They told the person in charge, called the returning officer (RO), not to announce the final result of the election in that area.
A group of four people from the ECP, led by the chief election commissioner (CEC), listened to a request from Captain (retired) Safdar. He was speaking on behalf of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who leads the PML-N party. They were questioning the election results, saying that they were changed.
In the election, Nawaz Sharif lost by a lot, and it seemed like an independent candidate backed by PTI, named Shehzada Gastasip, had won. During the discussion, Nawaz’s lawyer told the ECP that his client did not get the required form from 125 polling stations in the area. He explained that this form is crucial and can’t be given without another form called Form 45.
The lawyer said that Kala Dhaka, where the election happened, is a backward area that gets a lot of snow. He also mentioned that people in charge of the voting stations removed the agents who were there to watch the process. The lawyer argued that the election was not fair, and it was the responsibility of the ECP to make sure it was.
They asked the group from the ECP not to let the RO announce the result. Captain (retired) Safdar added that the RO had fainted and was in the hospital.
The ECP also told the RO in NA-46 not to declare the winner after an independent candidate, Amir Mughal, questioned a form called Form 47. The same instructions were given for the ROs in NA-47 and NA-48.
Later talking to the media, Captain (r) Safdar said that Nawaz had won the seat in Mansehra. “And that’s what we have to prove in the election commission.
