Order for recounting cannot be given after issuance of forms, 47, 48 and 49: LHC

LAHORE, April 25 (Online): Lahore High Court (LHC) while upholding the success of Rana Bilal Ijaz of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) from National Assembly (NA) constituency NA-81 Gujranwala has declared illegal the Election Commission (EC) notification for recounting.

EC has issued notification for recounting on PML-N candidate Azhar Qayyum application. It has been maintained in the written order recounting cannot be conducted after issuance of forms 47, 48 and 49. The notification for counting of votes could be issued during election process.According to written decision EC notification in connection with re-counting has no legal standing. The court declares null and void EC notification for re-counting. Notification of recounting which was issued on March 18 is illegal.

Justice Shahid Karim further wrote in written order on Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz petition that as per record returning officer dismissed the rival candidate Azhar Qayyum plea for recounting. The petitioner got success by 117717 votes.