GUJRAT: A PTI candidate from NA-63, Sajid Yousaf Channi, has been detained by the police after he came out of the office of the returning officer here on Friday.

Mr Channi had challenged the unofficial results announced by the returning officer of NA-63 declaring Chaudhry Hussain Elahi of the PML-Q as winner, with the Election Commission of Pakistan stating that he had actually won the seat but the results had been changed.

The ECP ordered the RO to conduct the consolidation of unofficial results in the presence of all the contesting candidates.

The RO fixed Feb 16 for the consolidation of results.

As soon as Sajid Yousaf came out of the district government complex during a break in the consolidation process, the police arrested him. Several other candidates from other parties were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Mr Channi had run his election campaign from abroad and did not visit the constituency throughout the electoral exercise. PTI sources said that he had reached Pakistan a couple of days ago to pursue his case with the ECP and courts.

A spokesman for Gujrat police denied reports of Channi’s arrest by the local police.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024