An election tribunal on Saturday asked returning officer (RO) of NA-125, Lahore to consolidate complete polling record of the constituency for recounting/inspection of the ballots. The Presiding Officer (PO) of the tribunal former Justice Kazim Ali Malik passed this order on an application of Khwaja Saad Rafiq, returned candidate from the constituency.
The tribunal had ordered for recounting of the votes on a plea of a senior lawyer and leader of PTI Hamid Khan, who had lost his election. Khawaja Saad in his application stated that transparency was not being observed during the recounting process. He said the process adopted by the returning officer (RO) was vague that was casting doubts on its fairness.
He said the RO had been compiling result out of the polling bags inspected on daily basis. He said the RO should summon complete polling record and compile result after completion of the process. The tribunal allowing the prayer of Kh Saad directed the RO concerned to summon and consolidate complete record for the recounting process.