ECP Restores PPP’s Ali Hassan Zehri as PB-21 Hub Winner After 39-Station Recount

Overview

• The Election Commission of Pakistan on Feb 25 ordered a recount at 39 polling stations by a 2-1 majority and directed the Balochistan government to provide security.
• Within 24 hours of that order, the returning officer completed the recount and the ECP reinstated its Dec 19, 2024 notification declaring Zehri the returned candidate.
• Recount figures showed Bhootani’s tally dropping from 30,910 to 17,403 as rejected votes rose by the same 13,507, while Zehri’s total increased from 14,120 to 23,974 with overall polled votes also higher.
• The original Form-47 provisional results from Feb 8, 2024 had listed Bhootani as the winner in PB-21 Hub.
• The dispute has featured repeated court interventions, including the FCC’s recent suspension of Zehri’s notification, and has been shadowed by arrests from the strong room over alleged fake ballots.