*SIALKOT: After a recount, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) stalwartKhawaja Asif remained victorious in the electoral battle against PakistanTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar in NA-73, Sialkot. *
Mr. Dar, who lost the election to the former foreign minister, approachedthe returning officer seeking a recount of votes.
The RO, however, turned down his request for recounting the complete votescast in the constituency and allowed a recount of only 7,300 rejected votesand 174 postal ballots of 15 polling stations.
After the recount, Mr. Asif remained winner with an increase of 45 votescast in his favour while the PTI candidate’s votes increased by 132,slightly changing a margin of over 1400.
The PML-N candidate secured 117, 002 votes while the PTI candidate couldbag 115,596, losing the seat by a margin of mere 1406 votes as against theinitial vote difference of 1493.