LOWER DIR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-backed candidate for PK-17 Ubaidur Rehman was declared successful after a recount of votes by the returning officer of the constituency, the assistant commissioner of Samarbagh, Numan Pervez, here on Sunday.

The RO in this regard issued fresh results, declaring Ubaidur Rehman of PTI as winner with 23,229 votes as compared to Jamaat-i-Islami candidate Izazul Mulk’s 19,990 votes. Earlier, the RO, according to his Form-47, had declared Izazul Mulk as winner in PK-17 constituency with a total of 25,124 votes against 22,981 votes of Ubaidur Rehman.

Ubaidur Rehman had challenged the results and sought a probe into Form-45 and recount of votes at 10 polling stations. The RO issued another notification in the shape of Form-49, showing Ubaidur Rehman as winner and Izazul Mulk as runner up.

Jamaat-i-Islami, meanwhile, announced to end its protest sit-in outside Timergara rest house wherein the recounting was carried out. JI workers surrounding the venue for two consecutive days were objecting to recounting of votes in the absence of their candidate or his agent.

The district administration held several rounds of talks with JI protesting workers and their leaders but to no avail. JI provincial leaders intervened in the matter and persuaded the protesting workers to end their sit-in after which they ended the protest.

Addressing the protesters, Izazul Mulk alleged that the recount was conducted under pressure in his absence. He said that his mandate was being changed and JI would never let it happen. However, after the intervention of provincial leaders of JI the protest ended. PTI workers celebrated their victory in parts of Jandol.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2024