LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday directed an additional district and sessions court in Lahore to verify votes cast in the NA-122 constituency.

The decision comes against a request filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan whereby he had accused NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of rigging votes in the said constituency.

The ECP had directed Additional Sessions Court Judge Shahida Saeed to begin the verification process from Nov 7 onwards. A commission will inspect all votes cast in the constituency.

Also read: ECP gives nod to ballot review in NA-122

On Sept 17, the ECP had given a nod to review ballot in NA-122. The NA-122 is one of the four constituencies where the PTI had sought a recount and verification of voters’ thumb impressions.

Sadiq had defeated Khan in the 2013 general elections and the PTI challenged the results.

Khan had claimed that during an investigation into the vote count in PP-147 which fell under NA-122, evidences of wrongdoing had been found. It revealed that in six polling stations opened up, 3,267 out of 4,726 votes casted could not be verified.

Also read: Imran wants NA speaker to resign for verification of votes in his constituency

According to the PTI chairman, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) had found that CNIC numbers written on 696 vote counterfoils were fake. Besides, 69 per cent of the votes polled in the six polling stations were found to be bogus.

The PTI chief has been seeking resignation of Sadiq till the completion of verification of votes in the constituency by the election tribunal.