PTI suffers as the ECP declares the PML-N candidates the winners of the NA seats in Islamabad

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the victory of three Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates from Islamabad’s three constituencies on Friday, rejecting the objections submitted by the party formed by Imran Khan, dealing a setback to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Anjum Aqeel, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Raja Khurram Nawaz, the three PML-N candidates, had won from NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48, respectively.

The PTI had previously challenged the ECP’s notification in court at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), but the court dismissed the appeal and sent the case back to the commission.

The court ruled on Wednesday that the PML-N candidates’ victory notifications would not be sent out until the ECP made a determination about the outstanding issues.

The ruling was made by the PTI-backed candidates Barrister Shoaib Shaheen, Aamer Mughal, and Ali Bokhari in their intra-court appeals (ICA), which were considered by an IHC bench made up of Justices Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Arbab Muhammad Tahir.

The returning officer had been instructed to provide a report in this regard, the ECP had told the court.

The Election Commission released the notification today following hearings from the parties.

An injunction order was made in response to the 19-02-2024 ruling of the Islamabad High Court, which halted the implementation of Notification No. F.2(5)/2024-Cord., dated 11-02-2024, regarding the returning candidates of Constituencies Nos. NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48. The petition was decided by the Hon’ble High Court through an order dated February 21, 2024, specifically subject to the outcome of the ongoing election petitions.

“Now, in light of the ruling made by the Honorable Islamabad High Court, the Commission has finally disposed of the petitions filed by Mr. Aamer Masood, who is running for NA-46 ICT-I, Mr. Shoib Shaheen, who is running for NA-47 ICT-II, and Syed Muhammad Ali Bokhari, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, and Ch. Azhar Mehmood, who is running for NA-48 ICT-Ill. As a result, the Notice dated 11-02-2024 that was suspended by the Honorable Court under Section 98(1) of the Elections Act, 2017 is now restored or resurrected retroactively.

‘Don’t fight against the state’

Speaking to media outside ECP, Chaudhry lambasted his competitors for creating controversy over the vote results and asked the PTI not to fight against the state.

“We are ready for a political battle.”

He stated that they will present the same Form 45 at each forum since they have copies from each of the three constituencies.

The leader of the PML-N charged that the PTI was engaging in fraud and misleading the high court.