Pakistan Election Result 2024 Highlights: Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N, Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP discuss power-sharing formula for formation of coalition government

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday rejected allegations of rigging during the February 8 general elections, while saying that a few irregularities were being investigated, as per Dawn. In a press release, the ECP also said that the suspension of mobile phone services on the day of voting, posing a challenge for the presiding officers during transfer of electronic data. The ECP said the move had severely affected coordination and transport of election material, Dawn reported.

A senior leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami party Monday forfeited the seat he had won in the Sindh province, saying that Imran Khan's PTI-backed independent candidate had won from the constituency, as per news agency PTI. According to the provisional results published by the Election Commission of Pakistan, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had won from the PS-129 constituency. However, addessing a press conference today, Rehman said that he took the step to forego his seat to highlight the alleged rigging in the elections, as per the PTI report. "When I estimated that there was a difference of a few hundred votes, I asked my team for each and every Form [45]. When we checked, we found out that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had shown fewer votes for us but as I did not succeed, I forfeit this seat,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

Responding to the criticism by US lawmakers on the conduct of elections in Pakistan, the country's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that it was "not that big a deal", as per Dawn. While asserting that there were more important issues for them to comment on, Kakar said that the US Congress members did not “represent the gospel truth”. Speaking about allegations that the caretaker government had failed to provide a level playing field in the general elections, Kakar said that PTI loyalists were allowed to contest in the polls, Dawn reported. 

PML-N leader Ata Tarar on Monday said that the party would announced its prime ministerial candidate after "complete consensus" with its allies, Dawn reported. "“We are in a position where we can form a government in Punjab and we have attained simple majority,” the report quoted Tarar as saying at a press conference. Tarar said that in regards to forming the government at the centre, Nawaz Sharif's party is in talks with the PPP, led by the Bhutto-Zardari family, and the MQM-P. 

Supporters of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other political parties on Monday blocked key highways, commencing a day-long strike in southwest Pakistan against alleged rigging in last week's general elections, the Associated Press reported. PTI-backed independent candidates won most seats in the final tally, followed by Nawaz Sharif's PML-N which emerged as the largest party, given that Imran Khan's party had been barred from contesting. This has led to talks of forming a coalition government, with the PML-N reaching out to other parties. Dozens of Imran Khan supporters were also detained by the Lahore police Sunday following a protest at Liberty Market, the AP report said. 

Supporters of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with members of other political parties, staged a daylong strike in the volatile southwest on Monday, blocking key highways to protest against the alleged rigging in last week's elections.

Dozens of Khan’s supporters were briefly detained in the eastern city of Lahore over the weekend while protesting alleged vote-rigging.

Jan Achakzai, a government spokesman in the southwest province of Baluchistan, urged protesters to “show grace” by accepting defeat and moving away from the highways.Khan could not run in the election because of the criminal convictions against him that he says are politically motivated. (inputs from AP)

Pakistan conducted its parliamentary elections on February 8, 2024 with 44 political parties vying for 265 seats in the National Assembly. This marked the country’s 12th general election since gaining independence 76 years ago.

According to the final tally on the Election Commission of Pakistan website, Independents backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan have won 101 of the 265 seats, a report on Dawn said. This is followed by Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N which won 75 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party, which secured 54 seats.

Historically, Pakistan’s political landscape has been fraught with turmoil and includes three constitutions and several military coups. Further, none of its 30 prime ministers have managed to complete a full five-year term. (Read More)

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have initiated formal discussions to establish a government at the center with the backing of their allies, according to Dawn newspaper. This comes as political manoeuvring intensifies following the February 8th poll, where neither party secured a simple majority. 

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif reached out to JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to brief him on the discussions and seek his support for forming the federal government. Maulana Fazl assured a response by Wednesday.

At the same time, a meeting was held with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Lahore, while another session with the PML-Q led by Shujaat Hussain is scheduled for today, February 12, in Islamabad, as reported by Dawn.

The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), led by former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has proposed the idea of a "participatory coalition government" to other political parties in order to resolve the deadlock following the split verdict in the February 8 election, as reported by media on Monday.

Former law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar described this situation as a 'Hobson's choice' and emphasized that no single political party had secured a majority in the National Assembly, asserting that the elections were conducted fairly.

“There's only the possibility of forming the (federal) government with the backing of the PML-N. It will be a participatory coalition government,” he said, adding that it was in “the largest interest of the country that all should join hands” to form the federal government, the Dawn newspaper reported.

President Arif Alvi is required by the Constitution to call for a new session of the National Assembly by February 29th.

According to Section 91(2) of the Constitution, the president must convene the National Assembly’s session after the official announcement of election results or issuance of its notification within 21 days.

A senior National Assembly Secretariat said the secretariat had made all necessary arrangements to start the new assembly’s first session, Dawn reported. 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has said a firm no to having power-sharing talks with political parties of Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Dawn reported.

However, he has said that PTI has decided to merge with another political party as the lack of reserved seats would hinder their chances of forming a government. But, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is what they are not looking forward to.

"We don't feel comfortable with both of them. There will be no talks with anyone to make a government or to make a government together with them. It is better to sit in the opposition than to make a government [with them], but we think we have the majority," he said while speaking to Dawn.

To carve out a formula for the formation of a federal government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders began discussing the terms of an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported.

According to the report, PML-N would take the post of prime minister, and the posts of the President and Speaker will be set aside for its partners if an alliance is agreed upon. (inputs from ANI)

PTI Senior Vice President Latif Khosa has stated that around 50 independent candidates backed by PTI are winning by large margins, according to the Form 45s, Dawn reported. 

Talking to ARY News, Khosa said: “We have clear official stamps, signatures of presiding and polling officers as well.”

He expressed confidence that reclaiming these 50 seats, along with reserved seats for women and minorities, would give PTI approximately 170 seats, enabling them to independently form the government.

PML-N, which is all set to form the coalition government in Pakistan along with the PPP, on Sunday bolstered its parliamentary support by gaining the allegiance of an independent candidate previously backed by Imran Khan's party. 

Wasim Qadir, who secured victory over PML-N's veteran Sheikh Rohail Asghar in Lahore's National Assembly-121 constituency with PTI's support, made the decision to join PML-N following a meeting with Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of party leader Nawaz Sharif.

“I have joined PML-N as it is my home," Qadir said after the meeting.

According to sources in the PML-N, the "working" on the PTI-backed winners have been underway and in the next 24 to 48 hours more such candidates will join the PML-N of Sharifs.

Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the PPP, led by the Bhutto-Zardari family, have confirmed their "first official contact" for the purpose of forming the government held at Lahore's Bilawal House, as per a Dawn report. A statement released by the PPP said PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif met party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to seek the latter’s help in forming the next government. While the PPP said that it would discuss the proposal regarding government formation, a press release by the PML-N stated that both parties had agreed “in principle to save the country from political instability”, Dawn reported. "“The leaders agreed to cooperate politically to bring the country to political stability,” the press release said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Gohar Ali Khan on Sunday said that the candidates who had switched their loyalties in the past had been rejected by the people in the polling for Pakistan's National Assembly, according to Dawn. The report further said that Khan, speaking to Geo News, said the party is looking into the matter of the PTI-backed independent Waseem Qadir joining the PML-N. He stated that the rest of the independent candidates were in touch with PTI and would stay with the party.

Pakistan courts have been flooded with peititions filed by losing candidates, challenging the provisional results for their constituencies, news agency PTI reported. Although Nawaz Sharif's PML-N emerged as the largest party in the voting, independent candidates, most backed by Imran Khan-led PTI, secured the most seats overall. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, a vast majority of those filing challenges against results are PTI-backed independents, including high-profile politicians such as former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi and his wife Qaisera, former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) finance minister Taimoor Jhagra and ex-KP speaker Mahmood Jan.

In Lahore, the victories of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, PML-N Attaullah Tarar and former defence minister Khawaja Asif were challenged in separate petitions before the high court, which allege manipulation of Form 47s, which showed consolidated results of every constituency, as per news agency PTI. The petitioners claim that they were successful against their opponents as per the Form 45, showing results of individual polling stations, handed to them. However, in their absence, their victories were allegedly turned into defeats in the Form 47, the PTI report stated.

Jailed Imran Khan scored a century without a bat, as independent candidates backed by his party, the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), won 101 seats in Pakistan’s parliament, the National Assembly. PTI got more seats than the two main established parties, which have the backing of the Pakistan Army. Pakistan Muslim League (N) led by three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif got 75 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by the Bhutto-Zardari family got 54 seats, according to the final tally released by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Independently, none of the three parties can prove a simple majority in the National Assembly when it is called in a few days.

Such an outcome poses a vexed question of whom does New Delhi talk to in Pakistan? It may be futile to engage with the civilian government. In realpolitik terms, this means the most effective person to talk to is Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir — who wields influence over the political actors. Read more here 

Supporters of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were detained by the Lahore police on Sunday while protesting against alleged rigging in the country's general elections. The PTI had earlier called for a nationwide protest on Sunday to protect the sanctity of the vote. "A peaceful protest will be held at Liberty Chowk in Lahore tomorrow at 2 pm. All Lahori prepare.  Tomorrow at 2 pm, a peaceful protest will be held in the whole of South Punjab on the general robbery of public mandate and will reject this robbery," a post on the party's official X account said. 

Pakistan President Dr. Arif Alvi took to social media platform X to congratulate the country's citizens, specially the women, for turning up to vote "in huge numbers", while "withstanding all pressures and standing up for democracy". Praising the youth for peacefully participating in the voting process in his post, he said that their belief in democracy would write history. "A true mandate is essential to come out of the severe financial crunch, to make difficult decisions, to repair, and to heal the bitterness of the past," the post said. 

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday said the party was ready to contest allegations of election rigging in courts, Dawn reported. Tarar saud that PML-N had formed a legal team to address the claims, the report said. Several Independents backed by Imran Khan have moved court challenging the victories of high-profile politicians including Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and former defence minister Khawaja Asif, citing rigging. Various highways and roads were blocked in Balochistan due to protests led by workers and supporters of different political parties.

After the PML-N released a statement saying that they had reached a 'principle agreement' with the Muttahida Qomi Movement Pakistan for a coalition, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool said dicussions with Nawaz Sharif's party had not involved talks of forming the government, Dawn reported. Siddiqui said it is also not yet confirmed whether the MQM-P would get any share in the government or not, as per Dawn.

Sharing a video to its official X handle, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that the Lahore police had arrested a man for allegedly waving a the party flag from his vehicle. “Police arrested a peaceful person travelling with his family for waving a PTI flag,” the post said. 

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in a statement posted on X, said that it rejects "the efforts of creating a shameful drama like PDM-2 in the country by trampling on the intentions of the people". The party also demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Election Commissioners and other members of the election commission. "Tehreek-e-Insaaf, the largest and most popular party in the country, with representation in all four provinces and a decisive public mandate, has the basic constitutional, democratic, moral and political right to form a government," the statement said, while alleging rigging in elections. The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was a coalition of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the PPP, led by the Bhutto Zardari family, as well as other small parties which came together in September 2020.  It succeeded in overthrowing Khan in April 2022 following a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly

With authorities warning of strict action on illegal gatherings, dozens of police equipped with riot gear arrived near Lahore's Liberty Market, Dawn reported quoting AFP correspondents. According to the Agence France-Press, the police had warned that they would come down hard after Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf urged supporters to protests against 'rigged elections'.

Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has reached a "principle agreement" with the Muttahida Qomi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) for the formation of a coalition government, as per a statement released by the PML-N, Dawn reported. While the PML-N won 75 seats out of the 264 whose results were announced as vote count concluded, the MQM-P secured 17 seats. In the final tally, the Imran Khan-led PTI-backed independent candidates are in the lead with 101 seats. Nawaz Sharif's party, meanwhile, emerged as the single largest party in the voting, with Khan's PTI not being able to banned from contending the elections.

Independents backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan seem to be ahead in the final vote count by the Election Commission of Pakistan, Reuters reported. According to the final tally on the EC’s website, the Khan-backed Independents have won 101 of the 264 seats, the report said. They are followed by Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N, which won 75 seats – becoming the largest single party.

The final tally shows that Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (N) won 75 out of the 264 seats in the Pakistan General Assembly Election, says a Reuters news report.

Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai while addressing the media in Quetta on Sunday, attributed the delay in numerous poll results across Balochistan to logistical challenges, Dawn reported. 

“When it’s freezing cold in some areas, it’s natural that results will be delayed because of logistical issues,” he said. “Even the election commission has said this.”

Various highways and roads were blocked in Balochistan due to protests led by workers and supporters of different political parties, alleging election rigging, Dawn reported.

Prominent political figures including Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, President of the National Party; Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Chairman of PkMAP; Mir Changez Khan Jamali, President of PPP Balochistan; Maulana Abdul Wasey, Provincial Emir of JUI-F; and Salar Khan of PTI have rejected the election results and announced further protests, including wheel jam strikes and blocking highways linking Balochistan with other provinces.

Pakistan went to vote on February 8 and three days on, the results are yet to be declared. While Imran Khan-backed Independents have raced ahead, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N has emerged as the single party with the highest vote counts. With both Khan and Sharif failing to secure a majority, the winner of the Pakistan elections remains undecided.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has not made any official announcement. Here’s why the election results have been delayed:

PTI leader Hammad Azhar has urged civil servants to uphold their loyalty to the Constitution and the people of Pakistan by avoiding involvement in post-poll rigging. He warned against any participation in such activities, cautioning that those found guilty would face prosecution.

In a video message, Hammad, who is currently evading arrest due to pending cases against him, emphasized that the people of Pakistan expect civil servants and police officers to refrain from engaging in or facilitating election rigging, describing such actions as reprehensible crimes. He emphasized, "Do not partake in these heinous crimes."

He called for the immediate resignation of the Punjab police inspector general, alleging that under the IGP’s supervision, numerous homes were raided, individuals were killed in police custody, hundreds were subjected to torture, and thousands of innocent people were unlawfully detained.

In an interview with Sky News, Aleema Khan, the sister of Imran Khan, expressed her belief that her brother inspired a revolution in Pakistan from behind bars on February 8th.

She said that she firmly believes Pakistan has seen widespread voter fraud. According to Aleema Khan, Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan from exile, coupled with the presumption within the establishment that he could effortlessly reclaim power, constitutes an "insult to Pakistanis."

In the interview, she also asserted that independents have a two-thirds majority and the right to govern.

Speaking on the issue of the cricket bat, the symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party which was banned shortly before the election, she said, "They took away the right of 15 million people to recognise the symbol. That bat was a symbol that 15 million people who are illiterate recognise their candidate with."

The true protagonists in the February 8 national polls in Pakistan were two individuals — Army Chief General Asim Munir and former Prime Minister and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, Imran Khan. Munir used all levers of state power from behind the scenes and through other institutions and individuals to try to grind Khan into electoral dust. With results of 250 of the 266 general seats contested in the elections announced so far, it is certain, that he has failed to do so.

Khan, imprisoned since early May last year, convicted in numerous cases which prevented him from both contesting elections or campaigning, was compelled to make his party candidates stand as independents. This was because the Pakistan Election Commission suspended PTI’s symbol. However, despite these steps and also pressures on Khan’s leading colleagues, PTI candidates contesting as independents came through as the single largest group. (Click here to read more)

A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) is in Lahore today, on the invitation of the PML-N, to discuss their post-election strategy, Dawn reported. 

Efforts to form a unity government in Pakistan have gained momentum following an appeal from three-time former Prime Minister Sharif, who appears to have the support of the Army. On Friday, he appealed to other political parties to join hands to pull cash-strapped Pakistan out of its current difficulties.

According to Dawn, he has tasked brother Shehbaz Sharif with the job of reaching out to the chief of PPP, JUI-F and MQM-P.

With the delay in the declaration of the Pakistan General Assembly results, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)  has given a call for a nationwide protest on Sunday to protect the sanctity of the vote as independent candidates are in the lead with 100 seats. 

"A peaceful protest will be held at Liberty Chowk in Lahore tomorrow at 2 pm. All Lahori prepare.  Tomorrow at 2 pm, a peaceful protest will be held in the whole of South Punjab on the general robbery of public mandate and will reject this robbery," a post on the party's official X account said. 

The Election Commission of Pakistan has ordered re-polling in around 52 polling stations amid allegations of rigging, which will take place on February 15, Dawn reported. 

These include 26 polling stations of NA-88 after a "mob reportedly set fire to polling material at the returning officer’s office", and 25 polling stations of PK-90 as "damage" was caused to polling material by "terrorists". Re-polling will also be held in PS-18 after "unidentified people" confiscated polling material, the report said.

The re-polling will be held on February 15.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz held an important party meeting on government formation on Saturday, with the country witnessing a hung parliament. PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said the party has begun contacts and discussions with other parties like the PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Dawn reported. Pakistan People's Party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had earlier said that his party has not had any official conversation with Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and Imran Khan's PTI on the forming of a coalition government, as per Dawn. 

With Pakistan witnessing a hung parliament due to no party getting a clear majority, Nawaz Sharif's PML-N has begun contacts and discussions with other parties like the PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Dawn reported the party's information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb as saying. Aurangzeb further said that the PML-N would not exclude "other parties" given that they were a "political reality". Out of the 257 seats whose results have been announced, the independent candidates, most backed by PTI, have won 102 seats. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP have secured 73 and 54 seats respectively. 

Pakistan caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said he anticipates the formation of a coalition government, with the country witnessing a hung parliament given that no party has secured a clear majority, news agency PTI reported. Kakar further said that the suspension of mobile phone services on Thursday during polling was not politically motivated, adding that it was done to address security concerns and to counter terrorism activities. Out of the 255 seats whose results have been declared so far, 100 seats have been bagged by independent candidates, most of them backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's PPP follow with 73 and 54 seats respectively.

Pakistan's army chief Gen Asim Munir on Saturday urged the political leadership to form a "unified government of all democratic forces", while backing former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's appeal to his rivals to help form a coalition government, news agency PTI reported. Out of the 255 seats whose results have been declared so far, 100 seats have been bagged by independent candidates, most of them backed by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The group was followed by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 73 seats and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif as well as his daughter Maryam Nawaz's victory in the Pakistan general elections was challenged by PTI-backed independent candidates in the Lahore High Court on Saturday, as per news agency PTI. The candidates claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) declared them winners on “bogus” result Form-47 instead of Form-45. Form 45 or the  ‘Result of the Count' form documents and discloses the outcomes of the voting procedure at a particular polling station. One of the petitioners at the LHC, Dr Rashid said she had won the seat against Sharif according to the Form-45, however, the ECP issued Form-47 declaring the PML-N supreme as successful, as per news agency PTI.

Pakistan People's Party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday said that his party has not had any official conversation with Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and Imran Khan's PTI on the forming of a coalition government, as per Dawn. While accepting that his party would not be able to form the government on its own, he said that once the final results are declared, the PPP would be in the position to engage with others. 

However, according to Dawn, Bilawal also said that his party was needed to form the government at the centre as well as in Punjab and Balochistan. “We don’t know the whole count nor have independents announced their decisions,” the report quoted Bilawal as saying. “No government will be able to solve the public’s problems without addressing the political toxicity,” he said.

Pakistan-born Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai on Saturday said that the country needs "free and fair elections", while urging elected officials to accept the voters' decision with grace. "I believe today, as I always have, that we must accept the voters' decision with grace. I hope our elected officials, whether in government or opposition parties, will prioritise democracy and prosperity for the people of Pakistan,” the 26-year-old posted on X.

Amid the delay in announcement of the final results of the country's general elections, X users across Pakistan reported a disruption of services, as per a Dawn report. Watchdog organisation Netblocks, which monitors governance of internet services, also confirmed the disruption to the micro-blogging site. With nations like the United States and United Kingdom as well as the European Union expressing concerns about the "fairness" of the conduct of elections in the country, several Pakistani users of the site claimed outage of X. Activist Usama Khilji noted that X remained inaccessible across Pakistan even after two days since the elections, amid reports of online allegations of poll rigging, Dawn reported.

Both Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif have claimed victory in Pakistan’s elections. There is unrest on the streets, including reports of violence in parts of the country. And like always, allegations of rigging and election manipulation are rife.

Results of Pakistan’s February 8 (Thursday) elections have thrown the country into uncertainty. Against all odds, independents loyal to the jailed Imran Khan continue to lead in the race. But will they be able to form the government? Just what happens now? Read here to know

Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir, while urging the political leadership to "rise above self-interests", called for a "unified government", news agency PTI reported. The statements comes in the wake of a hung parliament in the country, with no party sceuring a clear majority. Both Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have claimed victory in the elections. While Sharif said that his party - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz - had emerged as the largest in the voting, PTI co-founder Imran Khan's close aide said that the banner for independent candidates backed by his party would be announced within the next 24 hours. Out of the 253 seats whose results have been announced, the independent candidates have won 100 seats, while Nawaz Sharif's PML-N secured 71 seats and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's PPP got 54 seats.

Imran Khan's close aide and media advisor, Zulfi Bukhari, spoke to news agency Reuters, confirming that the party banner for independent candidates backed by the jailed former PM's party, will be announced within the next 24 hours. In Pakistan, independent candidates cannot form a government on their own and need to join a party.  "And we have no fear of independents going anywhere, because these are the people who have struggled for the last 18 months and endured all kinds of torture and oppression," Reuters quoted Bukhari as saying in a voice note over WhatsApp. Out of the 253 seats whose results have been announced, the independent candidates have won 100 seats, while Nawaz Sharif's PML-N secured 71 seats and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's PPP got 54 seats.

Pukhtoon nationalist and former lawmaker Mohsin Dawar, along with his supporters, was injured when police used force against them during a protest rally in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province against alleged election rigging, news agency PTI quoted demonstrators as saying. Dawar, a former member of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), and other demonstrators sustained injuries during the rally protesting against the delay in announcement of results in the North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan. The injured have been shifted to a hospital, PTI quoted a protestor who took part in the rally as saying.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said that there was an  “apparent attempt to shape the winning seats of the PTI into defeats”, as per Dawn. Khan said that it was the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) “constitutional and legal responsibility” to delcare the results of the general elections by 2 am the next day and to specify the reasons for the delay. PTI founder and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's senior aide has said that the party would be holding peaceful protests is the elections results were not declared by Saturday night. 

Pakistan's caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that there was no political motive behind the suspension and blocking of phone services across the country during polling, Dawn reported. Referring to two violent incidents that occurred in Balochistan the day before the election, he highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by the government. He said that the suspension of mobile phone services was done to address these security concerns and counter any terrorist activities that could take place. 

Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's senior aide on Saturday said that their party - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -  would try to form the national government with most seats that have been won by them int the polls, Reuters reported. All institutions in the country should respect our party's mandate, the senior aide was quoted as saying. The aide further said that if the final results of polling were not announced by today, the PTI would hold peaceful protests on Sunday.

While responding to criticism of the conduct of general elections in the country - amid allegations rigging, sporadic militant attacks and suspension of mobile phone services - Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said that the voting was peaceful and successful, Associated Press reported. The US State Department had earlier said that Thursday's vote was held under undue restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The European Union has also said it regrets the lack of a level playing field due to the inability of some political actors to contest the elections, as per AP. The country's foreign ministry said that it was surprised by "the negative tone of some of these statements, which neither take into account the complexity of the electoral process, nor acknowledge the free and enthusiastic exercise of the right to vote by tens of millions of Pakistanis". The ministry added that these remarks ignore "the undeniable fact" that the country had conducted the elections peacefully, while dealing with security threats mainly arising from foreign-sponsored terrorism.

Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday released an AI-generated audio-video message, claiming victory in the general elections while calling PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif "stupid", news agency PTI reported. The message, which was uploaded on the official X account of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, congratulated the people of Pakistan on the results, while adding that Khan had trust in them. Khan expressed his firm belief that people would turn out to vote in huge numbers, praising his following for keeping up his trust. 

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted bail to Khan and his close aide, Shah Mahmud Qureshi, in 12 cases linked to the May 9 attacks on military installations. ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif granted bail to PTI founder Khan after fulfilling a surety bond of Rs 0.1 million in all 12 cases, including the General Headquarters (Pakistan Army) and Army Museum attack, The Express Tribune Pakistan reported. 

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday granted bail to jailed former Pakistan premier Imran Khan in 12 cases linked to the May 9 attacks on military installations. ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder Khan after fulfilling a surety bond of Rs 0.1 million in all 12 cases, including the General Headquarters (Pakistan Army) and Army Museum attack, The Express Tribune Pakistan reported. The court said there was no justification to keep Khan, 71, under arrest as all accused in May 9 cases were on bail. Khan will remain in jail as he is convicted in many other cases. (PTI)

Even as countries like the US and UK expressed concerns over Pakistan’s electoral processes, the country’s Army chief has congratulated the nation on ‘successfully’ carrying out polls, saying the nation needed “stable hands” to move on from the politics of “anarchy and polarisation”. 

Despite Imran Khan being in prison and his party being banned from contesting the polls, they’ve had a pretty good run! Like we mentioned earlier, independent candidates backed by the PTI are currently leading in the race. 

The PTI leadership is going to begin internal consultations from Saturday to decide which party its supported elected representative should join. They could potentially join a smaller party, which would then become the largest party and counter Sharif’s claim that PML-N was the largest and had the right to form the government.

Analysts say it may take a couple days before we have a clear sense of who is going to form government.