Overseas Pakistanis' votes can play decisive role in six constituencies

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the country’s history, votes cast by overseas Pakistanis can play a pivotal and decisive role in six constituencies.

The margin of victory is very low in one National Assembly, three Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and two Punjab Assembly seats and the results can change after the votes of overseas Pakistanis are included.

A decision regarding whether to include the votes of overseas Pakistanis in the final results will be taken during a meeting between officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), DG IT Khizar Aziz said.

In NA-60, Rawalpindi, PTI's Sheikh Rashid Shafique won by a margin of 60 votes as he secured 44,483 votes against PML-N's Sajjad Khan who gathered 43,836 votes.

Meanwhile, in PK-7, Swat, ANP’S Waqar Ahmed Khan won by a margin of 671 votes as he received 14,096 votes while PTI’s Fazal Mola stood runner-up with 13,425 votes.

Similarly the margin in PK-3, Swat was also low as PML-N’s Sardar Khan won with a difference of 913 votes against PTI’s Sajid Ali. Khan secured 16,824 votes while the PTI candidate had 15,911 votes cast in his favour.

Further, on PK-53, Mardan the margin of victory was just 61 votes. PTI’s Muhammad Abdus Salam won fron the seat as he received 19,192 votes while ANP’s Ahmed Khan received 19,131 votes.

The margin of victory in PP-27, Jhelum was 656 votes. PML-N's Nasir Mahmood defeated PTI’s Shahnawaz Raja in the contest for the seat.

Similarly, in PP-3, Attock the victory margin was as low as 227 votes. PML-N’s Iftikhar Ahmed Khan secured 43,259 votes to defeat PTI’s Muhammad Akbar Khan who received 43,032 votes.