IHC seeks comments from ECP over recalling poll results

ISLAMABAD—A Division Bench (DB) of Islamabad High Court here Monday directed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit written comments over its jurisdiction in recalling the poll results till April 28.
The Division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Munir Paracha and Justice Syed Qalbe Hassain resumed hearing of a writ petition filed by Mian Atta-ur-Rehman Mengal, a PML-Q candidate, through Wasim Sajjad, senior advocate of Supreme Court, about difference of votes gained by the petitioner and the returning candidate Attaullah Khan Megal on PB-35 Khuzdar-III. Bench raised questions over ECP’s jurisdiction in recalling the results ofthe whole constituency or certain polling stations under Section 103 and 103 (aa). Justice Mohammad Munir Paracha also referred to constitution of larger bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan about IHC jurisdiction over election matters.
Omar Hassan Sajjad, appearing as counsel for the petitioner, argued that under Section 68 of Representative Act 1961, ECP could declare result of the whole constituency as void with in sixty days and it has the similar powers of declaring results of certain polling stations as null.—Agencies