The results of the NA-75 by-poll were withheld on Saturday by the returning officer on the PML-N’s request amid a controversy surrounding 23 presiding officers who had allegedly ‘gone missing’.
According to police officials, the 23 polling officials had gotten stuck in far-flung areas of the constituency due to fog. In a late-night development, police had retrieved the officers and brought them to the office of the district returning officer, where leaders of PML-N and PTI were also present.
According to preliminary data obtained by Geo News from 337 of the 360 polling stations in NA-75, PML-N is in the lead with 97,588 votes. PTI candidate Ali Asjad Khan has so far obtained 94,541 votes.
The RO has withheld the final results of the constituency which will be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In two other constituencies where by-polls were held, the PTI lost the PP-51 Gujranwala-I and PK-63 Nowshera-III seats, according to unofficial and unverified results.
Meanwhile, PTI bagged the NA-45 Kurram I seat, edging out the JUI-F candidate.
‘Gross irregularities’
Senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the results of NA-75 polling stations were doubtful and requested the ECP to withhold the results.
In an application to the chief election commissioner, he asked that the result for NA-75 be withheld till “investigation of 23 missing presiding officers abducted by administration and determination of authenticity of results submitted by them by PMLN candidate Nosheen Iftikhar.”
Iqbal also demanded a forensic audit be conducted or re-polling be done in these polling stations.
PTI claims victory
Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Firdous Ashiq Awan claimed a victory with a margin of 7,827 votes and blamed PML-N of hooliganism and taking the RO hostage to stop him from announcing the results.
