Islamabad (Web Desk): The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday overturned Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict and reinstated the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to conduct a vote recount in three National Assembly (NA) constituencies.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and including Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, delivered the verdict by a majority of 2-1 on the petitions filed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.
Justice Aqeel Abbasi dissented from the majority decision.
The decision pertains to the recount of votes in various polling stations in NA-154, NA-81, and NA-79.
The top court overturned the LHC's previous ruling and restored the electoral watchdogs's directive for a recount.
Following the SC's ruling, PML-N members Azhar Qayum Nahra, Abdul Rehman Kanju, and Zulfiqar Ahmed have been reinstated as National Assembly members.
The request for a recount in the constituencies of NA-154 (Lodhran), NA-81 (Gujranwala), and NA-79 (Gujranwala) was submitted to the top court, resulting in this decision.
In the general elections, three independent candidates affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Rana Faraz Noon from NA-154, Bilal Ejaz from NA-81 Gujranwala, and Ehsanullah Wark from NA-79 Gujranwala, were initially declared successful.
However, PML-N candidates Abdul Rehman Kanju, Azhar Qayum Nahra, and Zulfiqar Ahmed requested a recount from the ECP. Following the recount, the ECP declared the PML-N candidates as winners.