The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected allegations of pressure in the NA-18 Haripur by-election.
The electoral watchdog termed claims that Form-47 was issued from Islamabad during the by-election as baseless and misleading. The ECP said that Form-47 for NA-18 was prepared and issued by the returning officer. The form was received by the ECP at 3:16 am on 24 November, while the district returning officer forwarded the same result at 3:22 am.
The ECP said that Form-47 was uploaded on its website at 4:28 am, bearing the signature of the returning officer. Forms 48 and 49 were both received by the ECP on November 26.
Moreover, the ECP has made it clear that the forum for objections to election results is the election tribunal. It also confirmed that a decision has been taken to initiate strict legal action against those involved in misleading propaganda.
