KARACHI: The recount of votes in the recently held by-election in the NA-249 constituency hit a snag on Thursday when the four key contesting parties – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party – boycotted the exercise alleging unfairness in the process and a partial role of the returning officer (RO).
Within minutes after the recount began at the RO office, the leaders of the contesting parties that boycotted started turning away from the process claiming that the officials concerned failed to answer the justified questions and provide the necessary documents to them.
“This recount was ordered to bring more transparency after there were some reservations of the contesting parties,” said the PML-N candidate and former finance minister Miftah Ismail while talking to reporters after boycotting the recount.