Shehryar Afridi’s vote wasted after he wrongly signs ballot paper

According to details, federal minister Shehryar Afridi reached National Assembly to cast his vote in Senate elections.

After he was issued a ballot paper by Returning Officer (RO), Afridi went to polling booth to cast his vote where he signed the ballot paper by mistake after which RO refused to issue a new ballot paper.

Sources said that despite repeated requests for guidance from Shehryar Afridi, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials did not guide him.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed anger after Shehryar Afridi was unable to give a satisfactory explanation to PM.

“We told everyone how to cast vote. You are an MNA, how can you not know the procedure of vote casting?” PM said.

It is pertinent to mention here that polling for 37 seats of the Senate is underway under the supervision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad.

A tough encounter is expected in National Assembly for the Islamabad seat where joint candidate of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Yusuf Raza Gilani are contesting against ruling party candidate Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

The current strength of lower house is 341 and PTI’s candidate apparently enjoys the support of 180 MNAs.