F.P. Report
LAHORE: In another major upset, PTI-backed independent candidate Salman Akram Raja had to face defeat at the hands of IPP candidate Awn Chaudhry in Lahore’s key NA-128 constituency, according to unofficial results.
Awn Chaudhry bagged 172,576 votes whereas Salman Akram Raja could manage to secure 159,024 votes.
It may be recalled that in NA-128, Istehkam-e- Pakistan Party (IPP) had made seat adjustment with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the latter had not fielded its candidate against Awn Chaudhry.
On Thursday, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and other family members cast their votes in this constituency and stamped eagle (IPP’s electoral symbol).
Meanwhile, Raja on Friday moved the Lahore High Court against alleged anomaly in the result of NA-128 (Lahore). He submitted his plea to the registrar office. Later, Raja’s plea was fixed for hearing. He has challenged the election result.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will conduct hearing on Raja’s plea. The PTI-backed candidate, in his petition, contends that despite securing victory with a big margin, the result was withheld. He said there was anomaly in forms 45 and 47, and he was forced out of the room where the vote count took place.
