The vote recount for four polling stations in NA-231 was disrupted by violent chaos when masked men stormed the regional office of the Election Commission. The attackers looted election materials and fled, while the police remained passive bystanders. Due to the violence, the recount process was halted. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took notice of the incident and directed the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Sindh to take immediate action against those involved.
The recount was scheduled to begin on Friday at the ECP’s regional office when unidentified masked individuals broke in, vandalizing the premises. They fled when the police arrived, leaving behind a scene of disorder that forced the suspension of the vote recount. The seat for NA-231 had been won by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Abdul Hakeem Baloch, but Khalid Mehmood Ali, an independent candidate backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, challenged the result. The election tribunal had ordered a recount of votes from four polling stations at 11:00 AM on Friday. ECP expressed grave concern over reports of ballot papers being stolen and burned during the chaos. The Chief Secretary and the IG Sindh have been ordered to conduct a swift legal investigation into the matter, and the provincial election commissioner of Sindh has been asked to submit a detailed report immediately.
