LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday suspended the notification of success of PML-N candidate Azhar Qayum from NA-81, Gujranwala, and gave time to the ECP to submit a reply.

Justice Shahid Karim passed the stay order on a plea by Bilal Ejaz Chaudhry of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) challenging the notification of Mr Qayum’s success.

A counsel for the petitioner stated that his client won the election by a margin of 8,000 votes, but the ECP declared the respondent successful after recounting of votes.

He said the returning officer reduced the petitioner’s votes in the recount and declared his defeat with a margin of 2,500 votes.

The counsel asked the court to set aside the notification of the respondent’s success and declare the petitioner a returned candidate. A lawyer representing the ECP sought time to respond to the petition.

The judge accepted the request and adjourned the hearing for a date to be fixed after Eid holidays.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2024