Karachi: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has accepted the requestof Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Miftah Ismail for arecount of votes after the April 29 by-election in Karachi’s NA-249constituency.

According to details, the top electoral body issued a stay order on NA-249by-poll results after Miftah Ismail challenged the results and fixed hispetition for hearing on May 04.

The PML-N leader had written a letter to the chief election commissionerseeking a vote recount in the Karachi’s constituency, where the electionswere held on April 29.

He pointed out discrepancies in Form-45 and Form-47, calling for recountingof ballots.

“We did not receive results from more than 30 polling stations. We haveserious concerns about the behavior of some presiding officers,” Ismailwrote, adding that many Form 45s were not signed.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) turned downpleas of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI)’s Amjad Afridi and PML-N’s MiftahIsmail seeking recounting of votes cast in T NA-249.

With unofficial results showing a close contest between PML-N and PPP, thelatter secured victory in the NA-249 by-election held on Thursday.

PPP’s Abdul Qadir Mandokhel secured 16,156 votes, followed by PML-N’sMiftah Ismail who secured 15,473, the unofficial results revealed.

PML-N, while complaining of rigging, said that it would approach ECP tochallenge results. The PML-N Vice President, Maryam Nawaz After alsoclaimed that the election had been “stolen” from her party.