Pakistan Election Results 2024 LIVE:
Members of polling staff count the votes after the polls closed for parliamentary elections, in Karachi, Pakistan on Feb. 8, 2024. (AP)Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: With both the independent candidates backed by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) falling short of a majority, Pakistan is set to head towards a fractured mandate. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, while confirming that he did not have the numbers to form the government, reached out to PPP, led by the Bhutto-Zardari family, to form a coalition. Follow our new live blog for the latest!
The latest tally suggests that the PTI-backed independent candidates have won 98 out of the 218 seats counted so far. The PML-N and PPP are trailing behind with 69 and 51 seats respectively. Ruling out any alliance with the PML-N or Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP, PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan had earlier said that they would “form the government at the Centre and Punjab,” as per Associated Press.
About the elections: The voting, completed on February 8, took place for a total of 265 seats in the Pakistan National Assembly, with the next Prime Minister requiring a simple majority (i.e. 169 votes) in the NA to be sworn in. There are three main political contenders — the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its key leader, former PM Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who is projecting former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto as the PM candidate.
Like many of the previous chiefs, General Munir would want to stick around. Pakistan’s near-term fortunes, then, appear tied inextricably to Asim Munir’s. (AP)
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PML-N candidate Muhammad Afzal wins NA-125 seat from Chiniot
PML-N candidate Muhammad Afzal won the NA-125 seat from Chiniot with 65,102 votes, as per early Election Commission numbers, reported Dawn.
The runner-up is PTI-backed candidate Javed Umar with 51,144 votes.
Pak Army behind him, Sharif reaches out to PPP for a govt and keep Imran out
PAKISTAN ARMY’S favoured candidate, three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, reached out to rivals PPP, led by the Bhutto-Zardari family, on Friday to form a coalition government as both parties trailed Imran Khan’s PTI-backed candidates in the parliamentary election results.
“We don’t have enough of a majority to form a government without the support of others and we invite allies to join the coalition so we can make joint efforts to pull Pakistan out of its problems…. I don’t want to fight with those who are in the mood for fighting… We will have to sit together to settle all matters,” Sharif told supporters Friday night.
He said he was sending his brother and former premier, Shehbaz Sharif, to meet the leaders of other parties and invite them to join the coalition.
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Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari hold meeting in Lahore
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting in Lahore on Friday, according to sources within the PPP, Dawn reported.
The meeting came shortly after Nawaz claimed victory in general elections held a day earlier, and invited his allies to form a coalition government. Shortle after, former prime minister Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an AI-generated victory speech of the incarcerated PTI founder in which he has congratulated the public and his party candidates for “winning” the 2024 general elections
The PPP and PML-N were both part of the PDM government that took over from PTI after Imran Khan’s ouster from the prime minister’s office in 2022. The latest tally suggests that the independent candidates have won 98 seats so far. The PML-N and PPP are trailing behind with 69 and 51 seats respectively.
Ataullah Tarar bets Bilawal to win NA-127 from Lahore
PML-N candidate Ataullah Tarar has won the NA-127 seat from Lahore with 98,210 votes by beating PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, according to provisional results released by the ECP, Dawn reported.
The runner-up is PTI-backed candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas with 82,230 votes. Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has registered wins in 51 seats so far.
Watch | Imran Khan’s AI generated ‘victory speech’ congratulating all 'for winning 2024 elections'
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an AI-generated victory speech of the incarcerated PTI founder in which he has congratulated the public and his party candidates for “winning” the 2024 general elections. 'You have set the foundation for your haqeeqi azaadi by voting yesterday,” the former premier said in an AI-generated speech posted on his official X account. “I congratulate you all for winning the 2024 elections.”
“Your massive turn out has shocked everyone,” said Khan while thanking followers for honouring his trust in them.
Three PTI-backed candidates register wins from different seats in Faisalabad
PTI-backed candidate Umar Farooq has won the NA-99 seat from Faisalabad with 120,686 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP, Dawn reported. Another PTI-backed candidate Muhammad Saadullah has won the NA-97 seat from Faisalabad with 72,614 votes and PTI-backed candidate Ali Afzal Sahi has won the NA-95 seat from Faisalabad with 144,761 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP, Dawn reported.
Nawaz Sharif appeals rival parties to join hands to form unity govt to rebuild Pakistan
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Friday called for a unity government as the cash-strapped Pakistan appeared to be heading towards a hung parliament, with independent candidates backed by jailed ex-premier Imran Khan's party springing a surprise by winning 98 out of the 226 seats for which results were declared so far, PTI reported.
According to the latest Election Commission data, results of 226 constituencies out of 265 were declared. Independent candidates (mostly supported by PTI) bagged 98 seats while PML-N got 67, Pakistan Peoples Party secured 51, Muttahida Qaumi Movement won 14 and other parties got 9 seats.
Changing his stance of not forging any alliance with any party, Sharif on Friday said that there is a need for all the political parties to sit together and form a government to pull Pakistan out of its difficulties, PTI reported. "Our party has emerged as single largest winning party in the country after Thursday's polls. To steer Pakistan out of crises, we want other parties to join hands to form a coalition government,” said Sharif, the three-time former premier.
PTI-backed candidates register wins from seats in Sargodha, Sialkot and Hafizabad
PTI-backed candidate Shafqat Abbas has won the NA-84 seat from Sargodha with 101,944 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP, Dawn reported. The runner-up is PML-N’s Liaquat Ali Khan with 77,477 votes.
Other seats where PTI-backed candidates have registered wins are NA-74 seat from Sialkot and NA-67 from Hafizabad. PTI-backed candidate Muhammad Aslam Ghumman has won the NA-74 seat from Sialkot with 130,504 votes and PTI-backed candidate Aneeq Mehdi has won the NA-67 from Hafizabad with 208,943 votes, according to provisional results released by the election commission, Dawn reported.
8-member group of lawyers formed to provide legal representation to Karachi candidates: Jibran Nasir
Human rights activist and election hopeful Jibran Nasir says an eight-member group of lawyers has been formed to provide legal representation to all candidates from Karachi who “assert proof of winning but have been adversely affected by rigging or manipulation”, Dawn reported.
“We are united in our commitment to upholding the integrity of the vote and ensuring that the rights of Karachi’s voters are protected, and their mandates respected in accordance with the laws and constitution of Pakistan,” he writes on X. Votes are still being counted after Thursday's general election which was marred by allegations of rigging, sporadic violence and a countrywide mobile phone shutdown. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Friday that there were serious concerns about the fairness of Pakistan's national elections while the US State Department, in a statement, said that the United States was looking forward to "timely, complete election results" in the Pakistan elections, Reuters reported.
Nawaz Sharif emerges victorious from Lahore’s NA-130
PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif emerged victorious on the NA-130 seat from Lahore with 179,310 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP, as reported by Dawn. PTI-backed Yasmin Rashid is the runner-up with 104,485 votes.
Britain notes 'serious concerns' about fairness of Pakistan elections
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Friday that there were serious concerns about the fairness of Pakistan's national elections, Reuters reported.
"We regret that not all parties were formally permitted to contest the elections and that legal processes were used to prevent some political leaders from participation, and to prevent the use of recognisable party symbols," Cameron said in a statement. He said that Britain urges authorities in Pakistan to uphold "fundamental human rights including free access to information, and the rule of law." The PTI-backed independents are currently in the lead, having won 96 out of 201 seats whose results have been declared.
Hindu candidate Saveera Parkash loses from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner, thanks voters for ‘unwavering support’
Saveera Parkash, a 25-year-old doctor who become the first Hindu woman to contest an election from Buner in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Friday thanked the people of her constituency for their “unwavering support” even as she lost from the seat.
Parkash was defeated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner (PK-25) constituency after managing to get only 1,700 votes. She had contested from the general seat of PK-25 on a ticket from Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
In a post on X, Parkash thanked PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, her supporters, and “everyone who believed in the party’s vision.” Read more
Pakistan ex-PM Nawaz Sharif claims poll win, seeks coalition
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared victory in national elections on Friday, saying his party has emerged as the largest and would talk to other groups to form a coalition government as it had failed to win a clear majority on its own, as reported by PTI. Sharif's announcement came after more than three-quarters of the 265 seats had declared results, more than 24 hours after polling ended on Thursday.
The results showed independents, most of them backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, had won the most seats - 92 of the 225 counted by 1600 GMT. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 64 while the Pakistan People's Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, got 50. The rest were won by small parties and other independents.
Look forward to 'timely, complete' results from Pakistan elections: US State Department
The US State Department, in a statement, said that the United States was looking forward to "timely, complete election results" in the Pakistan elections, Reuters reported. "The United States is prepared to work with the next Pakistani government, regardless of political party, to advance our shared interests," the statement said. Although Nawaz Sharif has claimed victory, saying that the PML-N had emerged as the largest political party in the vote, the three-time former Prime Minister said that he does not have the numbers to form the government. The PTI-backed independents are currently in the lead, having won 86 out of 201 seats whose results have been declared.
Public rejected PML-N, chose Imran Khan: Independent candidate Asad Qaiser
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf backed independent candidate Asad Qaiser on Friday said that the country's public had rejected Nawaz Sharif's party - the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz - and chosed Imran Khan, Dawn reported. Claiming that PTI came out on top despite state machinery being used against them, Qaiser said that results were being changed in the "rigged election", as per Dawn. The latest numbers suggest that the PTI-backed Independents are in the lead, bagging 86 out of 201 seats counted so far.
PTI members to meet former PM Imran Khan in jail, consult senior leadership on election results
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members are expected to meet former Prime Minister Imran Khan in jail and consult the senior leadership on the general election results announced Friday, a senior Khan aide told Geo news. The PTI-backed independent candidates have won 86 out of 201 counted seats so far, as per news agency Reuters.
Nawaz Sharif claims victory, says party emerged the largest in voting
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday claimed victory in the country's national elections, saying that his political party had emerged the largest in the vote, adding that he would discuss forming a coalition government, Reuters reported. However, Sharif did not disclose the number of seats won by his party, with the latest tally suggesting that Imran Khan's PTI-backed independent candidates have secured victory in 86 out of 201 seats counted so far, as per Reuters. The latest count published shows Sharif's PML-N at 61 seats, much below the majority 133-mark. Sharif said that the PML-N does not have the numbers to form the government, adding that his party would reach out to the other parties, including Asif Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to form a coalition government.
Will reach out to Asif Zardari to form coalition government: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif
While confirming that his party does not have the numbers to form the government after trailing behind independent candidates backed by Imran Khan's PTI, PML-N Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would reach out to other parties, especially Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), to form a coalition government, as per Reuters. As per the Pakistan election commission, 86 out of 201 seats have been won by the PTI-backed independent candidates.
Bilawal Bhutto wins a second seat, securing victory in NA-194 seat from Larkana
Pakistan People's Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday secured a second victory, winning from the NA-194 seat in Larkana, Dawn reported. Bhutto had earlier won the NA-196 seat in Qamber Shahdadtkot-I with 85,370 votes, according to the provisional results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan. However, Bilawal lost the Lahore National Assembly seat NA-127 to PML-N's Atta Tarar, managing to get only 15,000 votes, news agency PTI reported. Meanwhile, Pakistani senator and PPP member Sherry Rehman had alleged that Bilawal's votes in NA-127 had gone "missing", while blaming the blocking of phone services for the "chaos", as per Dawn.
Imran khan-led PTI rules out alliance with Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, Bilawal Bhutto's PPP
With the independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf taking a lead in the Pakistan general elections, the Imran Khan-led party has ruled out an alliance with the other two major parties - Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), news agency PTI reported. The PTI further said that it was in a position to form a government on its own. Associated Press had earlier reported that PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan had told Pakistani news channel Geo that the party's own count showed it securing a total of 150 seats, enough for it to form a government, though 169 seats are required for a majority. "We are not intending to form a coalition government with PPP and PML-N," he said. "We will form the government at the Centre and Punjab,” Gohar Ali was further quoted as saying.
Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents still in lead with 62 seats
With the results for 156 National Assembly seats announced, independent candidates backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are still in the lead with 62 seats, followed by Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) at 46 and 39 seats respectively, as per the Associated Press.
‘Indeed the best way to speak': Pakistan celebs thank people for voting
As elections results trickle in, Pakistani celebrities took to social media to thank the country's citizens for coming out in large numbers to vote, news agency PTI reported. The voting that took place for 265 seats in the Pakistan National Assembly - with the election to one seat being postponed - was marred with sporadic violence and delay in the announcement of results, leading to rigging allegations.
3 PTI workers critically injured in Shangla: Dawn report
Three workers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) were critically injured in Shangla, Dawn reported. The workers were protesting the change in election results overnight
PTI-backed candidate Suriya Bibi makes history, becomes first woman to win PK-01 seat
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidate Suriya Bibi on Friday made history, becoming the first woman to win the PK-01 seat from Chitral, Dawn reported. She defeated JUI-F’s Shakeel Ahmad, managing to secure 18,914 votes, as per the provisional results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto wins Qamber seat, loses Lahore's NA-127 seat as party alleges rigging
Pakistan People's Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari won the NA-196 seat in Qamber Shahdadtkot-I with 85,370 votes, according to the provisional results announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan, Dawn reported. However, Bilawal lost the Lahore National Assembly seat NA-127 to PML-N's Atta Tarar, managing to get only 15,000 votes, news agency PTI reported. Meanwhile, Pakistani senator and PPP member Sherry Rehman alleged that Bilawal's votes have gone "missing", while blaming he blocking of phone services for the "chaos", as per Dawn.
Nawaz Sharif wins NA-130 seat, loses Mansehra constituency to Independent candidate
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif won the NA-130 seat in stronghold Lahore by a huge margin. Sharif secured over 172,000 votes against Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf-backed Independent candidate Dr Yasmin Rashid who got over 113,000, as per news agency PTI. However, the former three-time Prime Minister lost faced a significant defeat from the NA-15 Mansehra constituency, losing to Independent candidate Shahzada Gastasap.
Counting ends for over half the seats: Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents lead with 55 seats
As the Pakistan election commission announced results for 139 National Assembly seats, Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independent candidates won 55 seats, with Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's PPP securing 43 and 35 seats respectively, news agency PTI reported. A party needs to win 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly - with the election to one seat being postponed - to form the government.
PPP's Sherry Rehman alleges party chief Bilawal's votes "missing"
Pakistani senator and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) member Sherry Rehman on Friday alleged that party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's votes have gone "missing" in the NA-127 constituency of Lahore, Dawn reported. Rehman blamed the blocking of phone services for the "chaos", while saying that the consolidated results were not announced yet because "the results have been changed".
Independents backed by Imran Khan-led PTI win 49 out of 136 counted seats so far
Independent candidates, most of them backed by Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have won 49 out of 136 counted seats so far, news agency Reuters reported the Pakistan election commission website as saying.
Caretaker federal minister Murtaza Solangi claims internet services not suspended on Feb 8
Pakistan's caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi on Friday claimed that internet services and social media were not blocked or suspended on February 8, as per Dawn. “The suspension of internet services was not introduced in Pakistan […] it has happened in the US, Britain and even our neighbouring country,” Dawn reported him as saying.
Nawaz Sharif's party says former three-time PM set to deliver 'victory speech'
Nawaz Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday said that the former three-time Prime Minister is set to deliver a "victory speech" once the final results of the country's general elections are announced, as per a PTI report. The PML-N further said that the party is in contact with the independent candidates backed by jailed former premier Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Sharif and three of his family members - his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz as well as Nawaz's daughter Maryam Nawaz - have already scored victories in Lahore.
Nawaz Sharif, three of his family members win seats from Lahore
Former three-time Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday won by a big margin by getting 171,024 votes against PTI-backed independent Dr Yasmin Rashid who polled 115,043, as per news agency PTI. 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.
Independents, most backed by Imran Khan's PTI, win 41 out of 101 counted seats so far: ECP
The Independent candidates in Pakistan, most of them backed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have won 41 out of 101 counted seats so far, Reuters reported the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) website as saying.
Results delayed as new election app faces hurdles amid allegations of rigging
Pakistan Election Commission's new app, which was supposed to aid in the quick calculation and transmission, faced hurdles on Friday leading to a delay in the announcement of the results, as per a PTI report. The Election Commission of Pakistan had prepared the Election Management System app which was meant to enable the easy transmission of results from each polling station to a centralised system for the Returning Officers to quickly tabulate the numbers. However, news agency PTI reported that the absence of connectivity at the polling stations led to the Presiding Officers being unable to transmit the results to the system on Thursday evening.
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: PTI-backed Independents takes narrow lead
Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents have taken a narrow lead over Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's PPP, as per the latest update by the Pakistani daily Dawn.
Independents are leading in 19 National Assembly seats while PML-N is leading in 17 and PPP in 18 seats.
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: PML-N emerging as the single largest party in Centre, Punjab, says Maryam Nawaz
Politician and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz said today that despite a "false perception deliberately built by a section of media last night," PML-N is emerging as the "single largest party in the Centre and in Punjab [province]."
Maryam is the daughter of the party's prime ministerial candidate, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. "Some results awaited. MNS will head to PMLN HQ for the victory speech as soon as final results are received," she added.
Pakistan's sovereign dollar bonds tumble further amid election uncertainty, says report
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: As uncertainty surrounded the election results, Pakistan's sovereign dollar bonds extended losses to more than 5 cents, a Reuters report said citing Tradeweb data.
All of its sovereign dollar bonds slid, with the September 2025 maturity falling the most, shedding just over 5 cents to trade at 82.4 cents on the dollar by 0751 GMT, it added.
Nawaz Sharif may form coalition govt with Independent candidates, says aide
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose PML-N party is narrowly leading in polls so far, may form a coalition government with the Independent candidates, his aide Ishaq Dar said.
The PML-N was currently the single largest political party" as Independents, who have 72 hours to support a party of their choice, cannot be counted as a political party, Dar told Geo News.
"I am confident that we will form a government," Dar said, adding that his party would concede if any other party emerged a clear winner.
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents trailing
As per the latest update by the Pakistani daily Dawn, Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N is leading in 12 seats while Bilawal Bhutto's PPP has a lead in 11 National Assembly seats. Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents, which had put up a surprisingly strong show initially, is now leading in nine seats while others have a lead in 2 seats.
The goal is to win in at least 134 seats so as to ensure a simple majority in the NA.
Opinion | Here’s what’s at stake in the elections
Despite continuous rumours about a delay in the elections, security breaches, and charges of pre-electoral rigging, Pakistan headed for the polls on February 8. Held against the backdrop of a systemic economic crisis, deepening political polarisation, and the grim aftermath of an unprecedented attack on the most powerful institution of state by a key political party on May 9, 2023, the 2024 elections are extremely important in determining Pakistan’s immediate and future trajectory. While there is every reason to be concerned about charges of unfair treatment being meted out to one party — Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) — accusations of this kind are not altogether new. In fact, all polls for the past 75 years with the exception of 1970 and to some extent 2008 and 2013 have been mired in controversy and regrets about the absence of an even playing field for all contenders.
The handover of power from one civilian government to another in 2013 had been significant but could not be sustained. The role of the higher judiciary in overthrowing Nawaz Sharif with the backing of the military in 2017 pushed democracy off the rails once again in Pakistan. The 2018 elections that anointed Imran Khan as prime minister were completely choreographed by the establishment. The current elections are also being held under close coordination with non-elected institutions of the state that have been dominant in Pakistan since the 1950s. Yet, however compromised, the electoral process is necessary constitutionally and better than an outright military takeover and some new-fangled variant of martial rule. (Read more)
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Military intervened in election to deny PTI victory, claims US analyst
US-based foreign policy analyst Michael Kugelman has alleged that Pakistan's military intervened in the vote counting process in order to deny power to Imran Khan's PTI.
"The die is cast. If the final results show anything other than a PTI victory, PTI will reject it as a rigged result, and understandably so: Its early gains led to a long delay in announcing final results. The military, intent on denying power to PTI, intervened in the process," Kugelman wrote on X.
Nawaz Sharif's party wins 17 out of 51 seats, says ECP
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party has won 17 out of the 51 seats where counting has been completed so far, reported Reuters quoting the election commission's website.
Pakistanis voted for both provincial and central candidates in yesterday's election.
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: 12-8-6
As per the latest update by the Pakistani daily Dawn, Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N is leading in 12 seats while Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents are leading in 8 National Assembly seats. Bilawal Bhutto's PPP is leading in 7 seats, while others have a lead in 2 seats.
The goal is to win in at least 134 seats so as to ensure a simple majority in the NA.
Saddened by our defeat but happy PML-N lost too, says AML leader
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Awami Muslim League (AML) president Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has lost in the two National Assembly seats he had contested from in Rawalpindi, as per a report in Express Tribune. Rashid lost to PTI-backed Independent candidates Seembia Tahir and Shehryar Riaz.
“We are saddened by our defeat but are happy at the same time that the [Nawaz Sharif-led] PML-N also lost the election on these seats,” he said in a concession statement shared by his nephew, said the report.
Nawaz Sharif projected to win Lahore seat, says report
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Former Pakistan PM and PML-N's prime ministerial candidate Nawaz Sharif is likely to win the Lahore seat, reported Reuters, citing Geo News projection.
Sharif, who was on a self-imposed exile in London after he was convicted in Pakistan in numerous cases, returned late last year. His brother Shehbaz Sharif had taken over the PM post after ousting Imran Khan in April 2022.
Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N inches ahead in neck-and-neck race against Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N has taken back the lead from Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents, with the two parties winning in 11 and seven National Assembly seats respectively.
Bilawal Bhutto's PPP is leading in five seats, as per a report in the Pakistani daily Dawn.
Bilawal Bhutto set to win from Lahore, says report
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: PPP's PM candidate Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is set to win from Lahore, reported Reuters, citing Geo News projection.
Bilawal, who had served as the Foreign Minister in the Shehbaz Sharif government, is the son of slain former PM Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari.
Imran Khan-backed independents win 21 of 50 seats counted so far, says report
Independent candidates backed by jailed ex-PM Imran Khan have won 21 out of 50 seats in which the counting has been completed, said a Reuters report quoting broadcaster GEO News.
Pakistan's National Assembly has 336 seats, and the next Prime Minister will need a simple majority (i.e. 169 votes) in the NA to be sworn in.
A short history of Pakistan's fraught experiments with democracy
Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: As we await the results of Pakistan’s 12th general election amid rumours of vote rigging and incidents of violence, it is worth noting that the political history of the country is laden with turmoil — it has had three constitutions, three military coups, and out of its 30 prime ministers, none have completed a full five-year term.
Unlike India, the making of the constitution and holding of the first general elections — two of the key processes of building a democratic nation — were much delayed in Pakistan. This happened largely due to debates over issues like “the national language, the role of Islam, provincial representation, and the distribution of power between the centre and the provinces,” according to ‘Pakistan: A Political History’, a report based on Ayesha Jalal’s work for the Encyclopedia of Asian History and published by Asia Society, a non-profit organisation. Alind Chauhan walks us through the history of Pakistan's democracy.
Pakistan Elections 2024 Live Updates: 6-5-4 now
As per the latest update by Pakistani daily Dawn, Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents are leading in 6 National Assembly seats while Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N is leading in 5 seats and Bilawal Bhutto's PPP in four seats.
A short history of Pakistan's fraught experiments with democracy
Pakistan's people voted in the country’s 12th general election since its independence nearly 77 years ago.
The political history of Pakistan is laden with turmoil — it has had three constitutions, three military coups, and out of its 30 prime ministers, none have completed a full five-year term. Unlike India, the making of the constitution and holding of the first general elections — two of the key processes of building a democratic nation — were much delayed in Pakistan.
The 1970 national elections uncovered the growing regionalism and social conflict in the country.
Read the full story here
'Against all odds, they came out': Pak's ex-human rights minister on early results
Pakistan's former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said today that she is "awe-struck by the strength and resilience of our people" who came out to vote "against all odds".
The former PTI leader and Imran Khan's aide, who was arrested several times following Khan's ouster, shared a photo of the day's major newspapers in the country which said that Independent candidates (many backed by PTI) have sprung a surprise.
Glimpses from the counting centres
Pakistanis have cast their votes. Now, for the results. The country's Election Management System (EMS) has come under criticism after local media reports said that Presiding Officers at several counting centres said they were not able to send across the final results using the homegrown system.
Hence the delay in the announcement of results. However, Election Commission of Pakistan's Additional Director General (Monitoring & Evaluation) Haroon Khan Shinwari told PTV News that the system is not internet-reliant and that he was hopeful that the results from urban centres will be out soon while those from rural areas might take time.
Former PML-N minister remains hopeful, says will form govt at Centre
Former Information & Broadcasting minister and PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb remained hopeful, saying that her party will form the government at the Centre and in the Punjab province.
"Due to non-availability of mobile and internet services, it became difficult to get the results," she said on X, adding, "The position of Muslim League (N) is strong. By the grace and grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan Muslim League (N) will fulfill its solemn commitment to serve the people and relieve them from their problems as always."
Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents take narrow lead
Pakistan Elections 2024 Live Updates: Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents are leading in five National Assembly seats while Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's PPP are each leading in four seats, reports local daily Dawn.
Why the delay in announcing results?
Pakistan Elections 2024 Live Updates: The 9+ hour delay between polling and the announcement of results has emerged as a bone of contention between political observers with the Imran Khan-led PTI raising allegations of vote rigging.
However, Zafar Iqbal, special secretary at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), attributed the delay to "internet issue", without going into details, as per a Reuters report. The government said it suspended mobile phone services ahead of the election on Thursday as a security measure, and they were being partially resumed.
UN chief concerned by violence, communication restriction on Pakistan election day
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had expressed concern about poll-related violence and the suspension of mobile services in Pakistan, his spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
"As Pakistan awaits the results of the elections, the secretary-general encourages all political leaders and society segments to maintain a calm atmosphere, as well as refrain from the use of violence and any actions that could increase tensions," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, as per a Reuters report.
"It is important for all candidates and supporters to ensure that human rights and the rule of law are fully respected in the interest of the Pakistani people and (to) resolve any disputes that might arise through established legal procedures," the spokesperson added.
Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N, Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents go neck-to-neck as early trends trickle in
Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N and Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents are both leading in four National Assembly seats each while Bilawal Bhutto's PPP has a lead in two others, reports Dawn.
Imran Khan's PTI-backed Independents lead in 6 seats
As per trends projected in Express Tribune, Independents backed by Imran Khan-led PTI have sprung a surprise, leading in six National Assembly seats.