Pakistan Election Results: Independents Backed by Jailed PTI Leader Imran Khan
Independent candidates affiliated with imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have surpassed expectations in the initial results of Pakistan’s 2024 elections. Despite a significant delay in the release of results, which has led to accusations of fraudulent electoral practices and manipulation, these independent candidates, including dozens nominated by PTI, have emerged victorious in most constituencies.
In Thursday’s election, Imran Khan’s PTI party was not permitted to run as a bloc. However, unofficial tallies by local TV channels indicate that independent candidates supported by PTI have made considerable gains across the country.
A total of 266 seats are directly allocated through the voting process on election day, while an additional 70 reserved seats are distributed based on each party’s strength in Parliament. One seat’s voting was postponed due to the unfortunate death of a candidate. If no political party obtains an absolute majority, the party with the highest number of seats has the opportunity to form a coalition government.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) faced connectivity issues, resulting in a delay in announcing the election results. This delay has raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process, alongside reports of sporadic violence, mobile phone service shutdowns, and the sidelining of Imran Khan and his party.
Several media outlets have reported victories by PTI-backed independent candidates, causing major upsets for other prominent parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Imran Khan’s imprisonment prevented these candidates from voting, as they were disqualified due to criminal convictions that the PTI leader claims were politically motivated.
Mushahid Hussain, a member of the PML-N led by three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, described the media tallies as the most significant electoral upset in the past 50 years of Pakistan’s political history. Nawaz Sharif, who returned to Pakistan in October 2023 after four years of self-imposed exile to evade serving prison sentences, expressed confidence on polling day, dismissing suggestions that his party may fail to secure an absolute majority in Parliament. However, the atmosphere outside his headquarters dimmed as the day progressed, with sparse crowds and a lack of festivities.
As the official results continue to trickle in, Pakistan eagerly awaits the formation of its next government. The outcome of these elections will undoubtedly shape the country’s political landscape in the years to come.
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