Pakistan Election Final Results: Khan’s PTI Leads

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its affiliates have won the most seats in Pakistan’s elections, the election Commission has revealed as it declared final results in the hotly-contested vote.

A number of independent candidates allied to the jailed former leader’s PTI have won National Assembly seats in the February 8 vote, the commission said, helping the party to a surprise lead with 97 of the 265 seats. However, with no party winning a majority, and numerous contenders claiming vote tampering, Pakistan’s political future is very uncertain.

Five other independents not backed by Imran Khan also secured seats. The PTI was trailed by the Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN), led by Khan’s fierce rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, with 76 seats. The 54 seats won by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) offer it the potential to be kingmaker.

However, several other smaller parties also took seats, meaning complex negotiations over forming a government are likely to follow.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a Karachi-based party, made a surprising return in the polls to win 17 seats, with several others grabbing a combined 20 seats.

The vote, which was marred by deadly violence, was held to select 265 National Assembly members, meaning 134 seats are required for a coalition to gain a simple majority.

Several results have been put on hold by the election commission following stay orders issued by courts.

Protests

Thousands of angry protesters had poured into the streets of multiple cities during the delay in vote counting over recent days blamed on a telecommunications cut-off on the day of the vote for what the authorities called security reasons with several people killed.

The release of the final results, and stay orders, have sparked new demonstrations across the country. However, in the meantime, violence has been limited.

Pakistan’s powerful military, which has directly ruled for nearly three decades in Pakistan’s 76-year history, has called for stability and calm. Close to PMLN, it is thought to stand ready to step in should the various parties fail to agree a governing coalition.

ALJAZEERA