The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dismissed a petition filed by a Pakistan Peoples Party candidate (PPP) demanding a recount in the provincial assembly constituency PB-14 in Balochistan. The court also rejected allegations of bias against the returning officers.
The petition was filed by PPP candidate Ghulam Rasool, who challenged the victory of PML-N candidate, Mahmoud Khan, in the 2024 general elections. Rasool had requested a recount in seven out of 96 polling stations, alleging irregularities in the counting process.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, leading a three-member bench, dismissed the allegations, stating that “after the ballot boxes are opened, Form 45 or 75 holds no significance. Votes are the most important evidence in elections, not Form 45.”
The bench, which also included Justice Naim Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shahid Bilal, questioned the basis of Rasool’s claims, noting that his witnesses could not even prove their own identities as polling agents.
Justice Isa further emphasized that “the decision is based on the votes, not Form 45. Form 45 is filled by the presiding officer.” He also highlighted that the petitioner failed to provide any evidence of bias by the presiding officers, stating, “Even if the presiding officer is an enemy, the decision is based on the votes.”
Justice Shahid Hassan remarked that the case was straightforward and the allegations were not supported by the record.
The court ultimately upheld the victory of the PML-N candidate, Mahmoud Khan Lahri, who secured 22,639 votes in the election.
