Haveli Election Dispute: Mohsin Aziz Demands Recounting
Haveli : Strong protests erupted in Haveli over alleged electoral irregularities, as thousands of workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz staged a sit-in outside the Returning Officer’s (RO) office. The District Returning Officer (DRO), RO and election staff remained confined inside the office amid the protest.
Police reportedly resorted to tear-gas shelling and firing, leaving more than 25 people, including women, injured. As tensions escalated, Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz called off the sit-in temporarily and gave the Election Commission a two-day deadline, demanding recounting at 16 polling stations. He said protests would continue and roads in Haveli would remain blocked if his demand was not accepted.
The election staff sought two days’ time in response to his demand.
Speaking after Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was declared successful from LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta, Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz challenged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to order a recount in the constituency.
He said, “If I do not win by a clear majority after recounting, I will quit politics.”
Aziz alleged that the election results had been tampered with and said, “We will not accept rigged votes under any circumstances.”
He claimed that his team possessed the results issued by Presiding Officers from all polling stations, showing an 8,600-vote lead in his favour. However, he alleged, the results held by the RO were completely different.
According to Aziz, his request for a recount was rejected by the RO. He accused the RO of bias and said that the alleged irregularities had destroyed the traditionally peaceful environment of Haveli.
He further alleged that armed individuals intimidated voters at polling stations and claimed that the results were subsequently altered through alleged tampering with Form 24.
Aziz said his demand for recounting was his fundamental right and questioned why anyone would object to a recount if there was nothing to hide.
He appealed directly to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, saying: “Let there be a recount in LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta. If I do not win by a heavy majority, I will leave politics.”
He said thousands of voters were protesting outside the RO office against what they described as the theft of their mandate. He maintained that the protest would continue and roads would remain blocked until recounting was conducted and the alleged stolen mandate was restored.
