LANDI KOTAL: Results of three Fata constituencies withheld
LANDI KOTAL, Feb 19: Returning officers withheld results of two constituencies, NA-45 and NA-46, in the Khyber tribal region after rival candidates refused to accept unofficial results on Tuesday.
Results of NA-41, South Waziristan tribal region, were also withheld and district returning officer ordered recounting of the votes.
Armed supporters of a candidate from NA-45, Landi Kotal, blocked Peshawar-Torkham highway and smashed vehicles to protest against the alleged manipulation of results.
According to unofficial results former MNA from NA-45, Landi Kotal, Allama Noorul Haq Qadri obtained 14,115 votes and his rival Ibrahim Kokikhel secured 12,500 votes. Mr Kokikhel demanded recounting of the votes, alleging that results had been rigged.
On Tuesday morning supporters of Ibrahim Kokikhel brandishing heavy weapons blocked the highway and pelted vehicles with stones. The road was closed for traffic till filing of this report.
In the other constituency of the agency, NA-46, Senator Hameedullah Afridi was ahead of his close rival Saeed Afridi of Awami National Party by only 145 votes, while results from 10 polling stations in the remote Tirah valley were yet to come. Saeed Afridi demanded recounting of the votes amid allegations of rigging.
Officials said that results of the two National Assembly seats had been withheld. They asked all the candidates to come to the office of political agent on Wednesday for recounting. The political agent is also district returning officer.
Results in NA-41, South Waziristan tribal region were withheld after presiding officer of one of the polling stations said that he had lost result card dually verified by the polling agents of all the candidates. The district presiding officer ordered recounting of the ballot papers in NA-41.
According to unofficial results former MNA Abdul Malik defeated Muhammad Ghalib by 45 votes. Mr Malik belongs to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl. Earlier Mr Ghalib was declared winner.
From NA-39, Orkazai tribal region independent candidate Jawad Hussain has been declared winner by securing 21,000 votes. Dr Gul Karim was the runner up by obtaining 98,000 votes.
Former federal minister Dr Syed Ghazi Gulab Jamal was contesting from NA-39 and lost elections. He was also contesting elections from NA-16, Hangu where he also faced a defeat.
Elections in the entire tribal region remained peaceful and no untoward incident had been reported from the volatile region. Polls in NA-42, South Waziristan and NA-37, Upper Kurram region had been postponed.
Independent candidate from NA-47 Frontier Regions Zafar Baig Bhittani was declared successful. According to unofficial results Mr Bhittani bagged 21,000 votes and former MNA Dr Nasim Afridi remained the runner up by obtaining 16,000 votes.
Dr Munir Orakzai won elections in NA-38, Lower Kurram tribal region, by obtaining 16,518 votes.
The runner up was Maulana Akhunzada Obaidullah Sharif, an independent candidate, who secured 4,258 votes. In NA-36, Mohmand tribal region, independent candidate Bilal Rehman was declared winner unofficially.
In NA-43, Bajaur tribal region, independent candidate Shaukatullah Khan defeated the Awami National Party backed candidate Sheikh Jehanzada. Mr Khan bagged 7,428 votes while the runner up got 3,079 votes.
Pakistan People’s Party backed Akhunzada Muhammad Chattan defeated former MNA and central leader of PML-Q Shabbuddin Khan in NA-44, Bajaur region. Mr Chattan obtained 6,257 votes, according to the unofficial results.