Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has declared victory in Pakistan's general elections, despite allegations of result manipulation and rigging.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has vehemently disputed these claims, asserting its own triumph in Thursday's polls.
The PTI, in a statement released on Friday, alleged that the election results were being deliberately delayed to tamper with the outcome. They also called upon Nawaz Sharif to concede defeat, despite the PML-N's strong backing from the influential military.
Contrary to the PTI's assertions, the PML-N has refused to accept defeat and has insisted that it is emerging victorious in the elections. The political atmosphere remains tense as votes are still being tallied across the country, amidst reports of irregularities, sporadic violence, and even a nationwide mobile phone shutdown.
While numerous parties participated in the electoral fray, the main contenders were Imran Khan's PTI, Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, and Bilawal Zardari Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
According to PTI's claims, they have secured over 150 National Assembly seats out of the 265 contested, based on data received from Form 45s, which provide detailed voting information from each polling station. This would position the PTI strongly to form the next government, needing 133 seats for a majority.
However, PTI has accused authorities of manipulating results in the late hours of the night, labeling it as a "brazen theft" of the nation's mandate. The party alleges instances of coercion, abduction of polling agents, and falsification of voting forms, casting doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.
In a bid to pressure Nawaz Sharif into conceding, PTI urged him to acknowledge defeat and refrain from challenging the will of the people. They called for him to demonstrate grace and accept the election outcome to salvage some credibility as a democrat.
In response, the PML-N has dismissed PTI's claims, asserting that it is the largest political party in the National Assembly and is poised to secure a majority in the Punjab Assembly. Party leader Ishaq Dar urged against premature speculations and emphasized the need for patience until the official results are released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The standoff between PTI and PML-N underscores the high-stakes nature of Pakistan's electoral process, with both parties vying for power amidst accusations of foul play. As the nation awaits the final verdict from the electoral authorities, the political landscape remains fraught with uncertainty and tension.
Meanwhile, 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 (N) and Bilawal Zardari Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
A party must win 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly being contested to form the next government.
Pakistan's authorities were 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.
Follow us
