The Election Commission on Wednesday declared the result for NA-103 void and ordered re-polling in the Hafizabad constituency as it upheld the objections raised by a losing candidate that election on the seat was marred by rigging.
ECP’s order came on the complaint of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Hussain Bhatti who had lost to independent candidate Liaquat Hussain Bhatti.
The ECP on May 18 had issued recount orders for the constituency. However, on Wednesday it said that in the wake of large-scale rigging reports it has been decided to hold re-election in the constituency.
The May 11 general elections witnessed a huge turnout but allegations of rigging also clouded its transparency partly, particularly from opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
Earlier on Monday, PTI chief Imran Khan had a statement saying he believed that Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had failed in dispensing with their duties to check rigging.