ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP): The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for recount in constituency PB-21 Balochistan and issued notices to the parties for response.
Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas issued a stay order on the application of candidate Muhammad Saleh Bhutani. The order issued by the court stated that the petitioner requested to declare the order of the ECP dated February 25, 2026 as illegal and prayed to order the commission to uphold the election results as per Form 47.
It said that the petitioner requested to direct the Returning Officer to prepare Forms 48 and 49 on the basis of Form 47. According to the lawyer, the ECP’s order is a clear violation of Section (6) 95 of the Election Act 2017. According to the petitioner, the recount order was given based on mere assumptions.
It further said that according to the petitioner’s lawyer, the commission ordered the recount without giving notice to the parties.
The court issued notices to the parties, seeking responses within two weeks, and ordered the next hearing of the case to be scheduled after Eid al-Fitr.