Tribunal upholds Nawaz Sharif’s NA-130 win, dismisses PTI challenge

An election tribunal has upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification declaring Nawaz Sharif the winner in Lahore’s NA-130, dismissing a challenge filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid.

NA-130 Election Dispute Resolved

The decision effectively ends Dr. Rashid’s attempt to overturn Sharif’s victory in the February 2024 general election for the constituency, also known as NA-130 (Lahore-XIV). The tribunal, headed by Judge Rana Zahid Mahmood, rejected Dr. Rashid’s petition on technical grounds, ensuring the ECP’s official result remains valid.

Official results from the February 8, 2024 election show Sharif secured 179,310 votes in NA-130, while Rashid received 104,485 votes.

Dr. Rashid argued that the ECP did not follow proper procedure when notifying Sharif’s victory, alleging manipulation of the results. Her legal team claimed the outcome was based on incorrect documentation and flawed processes.

Specifically, the legal team contended that the ECP’s consolidated results (Form-47) contradicted polling-station level results (Form-45). Form-45, the official “result of the count” prepared at each polling station, has been central to post-election challenges following the 2024 general election.

The tribunal’s decision in NA-130 is one of several rulings awaited in election disputes filed after the February polls, as courts examine challenges related to alleged discrepancies between polling-station records and consolidated results.

The February 8, 2024 general election was followed by weeks of disputes and competing claims over results in multiple constituencies, with PTI-backed candidates alleging altered outcomes during consolidation and notification. These challenges were largely addressed within the election tribunal system, though many petitions remained pending for months after the vote.

Prior to the election, Dr. Yasmin Rashid’s candidacy itself was subject to litigation, ultimately being allowed by an election appellate tribunal. Following the results, she filed a challenge to Sharif’s victory notification, with PTI figures also claiming she had been leading in NA-130 before Sharif was declared the winner.