Independent Candidates Backed by Imran Khan Lead in Final Tally of Pakistan’s General Elections
Delay in Results Announcement Sparks Controversy and Protests
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election commission has announced the final result of Thursday’s general elections, revealing that independent candidates supported by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party secured the most seats, with 101 wins in the National Assembly.
The delayed announcement of results created tension, with several parties alleging foul play and some resorting to protests. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disclosed the outcome of 264 out of 265 contested seats, withholding the result of NA 88 in Khushab, Punjab, due to complaints of fraud.
Independent candidates, predominantly backed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), clinched 101 seats, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 75 seats and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) secured 17 seats, while smaller parties claimed the remaining 12 seats.
To form a government, a party needs to win 133 seats out of the 265 contested in the National Assembly, and a simple majority of 169 out of 336 total seats, including reserved slots for women and minorities.
While complete results for the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have been announced, the outcomes for three constituencies in the Balochistan assembly are still pending. In Punjab, independents won 138 seats, closely trailed by the PML-N with 137. In Sindh, results for 129 seats were declared, with one constituency slated for a re-poll due to corruption allegations. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, results for 112 out of 113 seats have been disclosed, with one outcome withheld.
The elections, marked by postponements and controversies, highlight the challenges and complexities of Pakistan’s political landscape.
