Despite being announced winner, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, a Pakistani politician, has relinquished his seat, alleging that the results were manipulated against his opponent, Saif bari.
Rehman, who was announced winner of PS-129 provincial election in Karachi, said he would not accept “an illegitimate victory.”
Pakistan held its national and provincial elections on February 8.
Rehman contested on the platform of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, while his opponent Bari is backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’ party.
The Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, however, said he discovered Bari’s votes were reduced from 31,000 to 11,000 when records of votes polled at individual polling stations were computed.
On Monday, February 19, Rehman said; “If anyone wants to make us win in an illegitimate manner, we will not be accepting that. Public opinion should be respected. Let the winner win; let the loser lose; no one should get anything extra.”
The polls were marred by allegations of interference and widespread fraud, but Pakistani electoral authorities have denied the claims.
However, the Election Commission of Pakistan is yet to announce who will take over Rehman’s PS-129 seat.
