Yasmin Rashid’s Petition Against Nawaz Sharif’s NA-130 Victory Dismissed

An election tribunal on Tuesday rejected a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Dr Yasmin Rashid challenging Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif’s victory from Lahore’s NA-130 constituency in the 2024 general elections.

Dr Rashid, who is currently incarcerated, had approached the election tribunal in April last year through her legal counsel, Ahmed Awais and Rana Mudassar. In her plea, she contested the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification declaring Nawaz Sharif the returned candidate, arguing that it had been issued in violation of electoral laws.

The former Punjab health minister alleged that the election results were manipulated in favour of the PML-N chief and claimed irregularities in the consolidation of votes. She maintained that the electoral process in NA-130 did not reflect the true mandate of voters.

After hearing arguments from both sides, election tribunal judge Justice (retd) Rana Zahid Mahmood dismissed the petition and upheld the ECP’s notification, declaring Nawaz Sharif’s victory from NA-130 Lahore valid under the law.

According to official results, Nawaz Sharif secured 171,024 votes to win the seat, while Dr Yasmin Rashid, who contested as an independent candidate backed by PTI, received 115,043 votes.

The PTI has consistently alleged widespread rigging in the February 8, 2024, general elections, claiming its mandate was stolen through alterations in Form 47, which reflects provisional consolidated results prepared by returning officers. The party has also cited Form 45 data, asserting it had won 180 National Assembly seats.

Form 45 contains polling station-level vote counts signed by presiding officers, while Form 47 compiles results from all polling stations within a constituency, excluding postal ballots, to form provisional outcomes.