NA-249 by-polls: ECP accepts Miftah Ismail's request for recount of votes cast

According to details, the top electoral body issued a stay order on NA-249 by-poll results after Miftah Ismail challenged the results and fixed his petition for hearing on May 04.

The PML-N leader had written a letter to the chief election commissioner seeking a vote recount in the Karachi’s constituency, where the elections were held on April 29.

He pointed out discrepancies in Form-45 and Form-47, calling for recounting of ballots.

"We did not receive results from more than 30 polling stations. We have serious concerns about the behavior of some presiding officers," Ismail wrote, adding that many Form 45s were not signed.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) turned down pleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)’s Amjad Afridi and PML-N’s Miftah Ismail seeking recounting of votes cast in T NA-249.

With unofficial results showing a close contest between PML-N and PPP, the latter secured victory in the NA-249 by-election held on Thursday.

PPP's Abdul Qadir Mandokhel secured 16,156 votes, followed by PML-N's Miftah Ismail who secured 15,473, the unofficial results revealed.

PML-N, while complaining of rigging, said that it would approach ECP to challenge results. The PML-N Vice President, Maryam Nawaz After also claimed that the election had been "stolen" from her party.