A recount of votes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s PK-17 Lower Dir constituency has overturned the initial results, handing victory to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independent candidate, Obaid-ul-Rehman.
This outcome comes as a blow to Jamaat-e-Islami's Aizaz-ul-Mulk Afkari, who had been declared the winner based on the initial count.
Obaid-ul-Rehman had requested the recount, and after a thorough review, the Returning Officer announced a change in the result. Rehman emerged with 23,229 votes, edging out Afkari's 19,990 votes.
This shift in power dynamics significantly impacts the provincial assembly, reducing Jamaat-e-Islami's seat count to two.
The initial Form 47 issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared Afkari the victor with 25,124 votes, with Rehman trailing at 22,981. This discrepancy highlights the importance of the recount process in ensuring accurate results and fair representation.
With the new outcome certified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Jamaat-e-Islami now finds itself with two fewer seats in the provincial assembly, signaling a notable shift in the political landscape of the region.
