Islamabad, Feb 9: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party-backed independent candidates on Friday won 55 out of the 139 National Assembly results announced by the election commission following unusual delays, leading to allegations of vote rigging.
Votes are still being counted in Pakistan after Thursday’s general election which was marred by allegations of rigging, sporadic violence and a countrywide mobile phone shutdown.
There were dozens of parties in the fray but the main contest was among Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose candidates are running as independents, former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly. Election to one seat was postponed after the death of a candidate.
Overall, 169 seats are needed to secure a simple majority out of its total 336 seats, which include the reserved slots for women and minorities.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data shows that results of 139 constituencies have been declared, which include 55 independents (mostly supported by PTI), PML-N 43, PPP 35 and other seats going to smaller parties.
Pakistan’s authorities were earlier moving at a snail’s pace to announce the election results that in a surprising development showed disqualified ex-prime minister Khan’s PTI supported independent candidates leading the show.
The ECP started updating results at a faster pace after facing a barrage of criticism by the parties, especially the PTI which accused that its mandate was being stolen.
Khan, 71, a cricketer-turned-politician and the founding chairman of the PTI, is behind bars and barred from contesting.
PTI candidates are running as independents after they were not allowed to use the party symbol – a cricket bat.
The big names who won included PML-N top leaders, including former premier Sharif who won by a big margin by getting 171,024 votes against PTI-backed independent Dr Yasmin Rashid who polled 115,043.
His younger brother and former premier Shehbaz Sharif also won, in addition to his son Hamza Shehbaz and Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz. All four family members scored victories from Lahore, their home and party’s stronghold.
PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and his son party chief Bilawal were leading in their constituencies.
According to the results of 50 constituencies of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, 45 PTI-backed independent candidates secured victories. PTI claimed that it won the elections while alleging that results were being delayed to rig the outcome.
Nawaz Sharif loses in Manshera
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Independent candidate Gustasap Khan has clinched victory against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at NA-15 Mansehra, a media report said. According to unofficial results, Gustasap Khan bagged 105,249 votes, followed by Nawaz Sharif at 80,382, ARY News reported.
12 killed in Pak poll day violence
At least 12 people were killed and 39 others injured in 51 militant attacks and violence on the polling day in Pakistan, local media reported. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 12 people were killed and 39 others injured in 51 attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, the Express Tribune reported. (Agencies)