LHC dismisses PML-N leader's vote recount petition in NA-81

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has dismissed a petition by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Azhar Qayyum seeking a vote recount in NA-81 Gujranwala. The petition was filed by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Rana Bilal Ijaz. The court ruled that a vote recount could not be ordered after the issuance of Form 47, Form 48, and Form 49, stating that the Election Commission of Pakistan's notification for a recount had no legal standing. The court declared the recount notification issued on March 18 as illegal and upheld SIC leader Ijaz's victory in NA-81.

Earlier, on April 17, LHC Justice Shahid Karim had overturned PML-N MNA Azhar Qayum Nahra's victory in NA-81 after a vote recount. The recount had been requested by PTI-backed independent candidate Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz, who had initially won by 7,791 votes but lost after a recount where 10,000 of his votes were canceled. The court found that the Election Commission had violated the law by allowing the recount after the formation of election tribunals, which are responsible for hearing election disputes.

Justice Karim highlighted that the Election Commission had disregarded a Supreme Court ruling by ordering the recount and questioned if this action amounted to contempt of court. The court emphasized that election disputes should be addressed through tribunals once they are operational and set aside the notification of Nahra's victory, deeming it unlawful.