By-polls: All political parties expect PPP boycott recounting of votes in NA-249

The recount of votes in NA-249 constituency of Karachi has become controversial, as apart from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), all the parties in the election boycotted the recount.

The vote recount in National Assembly (NA) constituency NA-249 by-elections was underway in the presence of all the candidates.

While addressing to the media, Miftah Ismail said that the electoral staff did not show their signatures on the form.

“Staff brought a bag of votes with no seal on it,” he stressed.

He further added that when they questioned them, they claimed that it must have fallen somewhere.

He further added, “Puplic voted for their candidates, and we want people to be given their rights”.

Meanwhile, Amjad Afridi of the ruling party stated that the party is boycotting the process because the electoral staff has made it controversial

The development came after Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accepted the plea of PML-N candidate Miftah Ismail who had lost the April 29 by-poll to PPP's Qadir Mandokhel.

The PML-N candidate argued that a large number of Form 45 were not duly signed by the concerned Presiding Officers (PO).

He further added that the polling agents of the party were also not given Form 46.

On May 4, after hearing arguments, the ECP ordered that the recount of votes will be held at 9am on May 6.