A divisional bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday ordered Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) to approach election tribunal for its petition seeking recounting of votes cast at all polling stations in the election to National and Provincial assemblies from Karachi-based constituencies.
The petition filed in the SHC by PSP Karachi Division president Asif Hasnain stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan, Returning Officers (ROs) and Presiding Officers of all polling stations failed to conduct fair and transparent elections in the city.
PSP's counsel also submitted that the ROs and presiding officers also didn't comply with the requirements of Election Act and relevant electoral rules and polling agents were not allowed to observe the vote counting; hence the results were not prepared in the presence of polling agents. The counsel further contended that Forms 45 and 46 were not provided to the polling agents of the candidates. PSP wants the vote counting in the absence of polling agents be declared illegal. It also demanded removal of ECP officials who failed to perform their duties in accordance with the election laws.
The divisional bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar stated that election tribunals have been formed to hear the election related petitions. It directed the petitioner to approach the election tribunal for his petition on elections in Karachi.