The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has resumed the halted announcement of winning candidates from three constituencies in Islamabad.
The decision comes after the Election Commission originally suspended notifications on January 11 in response to a ruling from the Islamabad High Court.
Under Section 98-1 of the Elections Act 2017, the Election Commission of Pakistan reinstated the notification of victory for the successful candidates in NA-46, NA-47, and NA-48, all of whom were PML-N members.
As a result, the victory notifications for PML-N candidates Anjum Aqeel from NA-46, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from NA-47, and party-backed independent Raja Khurram Nawaz from NA-48 were reinstated.
Speaking to the media outside the ECP, the winning candidates expressed their happiness with the outcome.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated that they had petitioned the electoral commission to seek favorable outcomes, emphasizing the necessity of the restoration of their notices.
Chaudhry went on to address the continued alleged propaganda around the three constituencies, referring to the IHC’s recent suspension of notifications on February 19. He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had the notifications halted due to fraud and misinformation, a decision that has since been overruled by the electoral commission.
In reaction to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s move, Chaudhry expressed gratitude, claiming that their notifications had been reinstated, reaffirming their victory in their respective constituencies.
Nawaz stated that the PTI lied that their candidates were not allowed to enter the RO’s offices, claiming that it was wrong to publish pictures of government officials on social media and abuse them. The reintroduction of notifications is a significant milestone in Islamabad’s election environment, offering clarity and validity to the successful candidates. As the political climate shifts, the restored notifications allow elected members to assume their roles and responsibilities, contributing to the governance and representation of the capital city.
