Islamabad (Web Desk): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification declaring the success of three Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates on Islamabad seats.
The IHC’s decision came on intra-court appeals filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independent candidates Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bukhari and others.
A two-member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurezneb and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the interim verdict while hearing intra-court appeals against IHC’s earlier decision to dismiss pleas against ECP notifications.
During the hearing, Shoaib Shaheen argued before the court that he collected Form 45 of 380 polling stations out of 387 polling stations.
“According to Form 45, I've collected I was winning from more than 50000 margin. I was allowed to enter the RO office but was later kicked out and results were changed” Shaheen told the court.
Ali Bukhari argued before the court that he wasn't allowed by the rangers to enter inside RO office.
“My lead was also changed in provisional form 47 which was later issued by the RO,” Bukhari maintained.
Similarly, Counsel of Amir Mughal told the court that our results were changed by the RO and our lead was changed into deficit.
The court accepted the appeals and suspended the poll results.
The ECP had notified Anjum Aqeel, Raja Khurram Nawaz and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry as successful candidates from Islamabad’s NA-46, NA-47 and NA-48.
Shoaib Shaheen from NA 47 lost to Tariq Fazal of PML-N, Ali Bukhari from NA 48 lost to PML-N backed Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Khurram Nawaz and Amir Mughal from NA 46 lost to Anjum Aqeel Khan of PML-N.
PTI candidates filed the petitions at ECP but notifications were issued for the winning candidates.