NA-81 Gujranwala result: PML-N's Azhar Qayyum emerges victorious after recounting of votes

RO declares PML-N’s Azhar victory with a lead of 3,201 votes against runner-up — PTI-backed Bilal Ejaz

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Election officials count ballots after polls closed during the general election in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 25, 2018. — Reuters
Election officials count ballots after polls closed during the general election in Islamabad, Pakistan, on July 25, 2018. — Reuters

GUJRANWALA: After recounting of votes, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Azhar Qayyum Nahra has emerged victorious in NA-81 Gujranwala, defeating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed candidate Chaudhry Bilal Ejaz with a difference of 3,201 votes.

The Returning Officer (RO) announced the NA-81 results after the recounting of votes, declaring PML-N’s Azhar victorious candidate with a lead of 3,201 votes.

Prior to this development, the PTI backed Bilal won the National Assembly seat by lead of 7,791 votes but his victory was challenged by PML-N’s Azhar.

Following a petition, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered recounting of votes in 75 polling stations.

Earlier, the top electoral body issued the notification of Khan Bahadar Doggar of the Nawaz-led party as the returned winning candidate from the constituency PP-100 who has succeeded after recounting the votes, The News reported.

From this constituency, the PTI-backed candidate Chaudhry Umair Wasi Zafar was declared the winner with a lead of about 4,000 votes and the notification of his success was issued.

However, on the application of the PML-N’s losing candidate, the commission ordered a recounting held on March 12 at the office of the Election Commission, Faisalabad. After recounting, the PML-N candidate secured more votes than the previous and was declared the winner.