Pakistan Unrest
Pakistan’s ongoing political unrest has entered a new phase, with violent clashes between police and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistan Elections Results 2024: The counting of votes for Pakistan National Assembly elections 2024 has concluded on Sunday with Imran Khan’s PTI-backed independents emerging victorious in 102 seats.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N, which was hoping for a clear victory, could manage to win only 75 seats amid PTI allegations of rigging in counting of votes. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) won 54 seats, while 17 national assembly seats went to MQM-P.
However, the suspense over government formation continued with both Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s PTI declaring victory.
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Imran Khan-PTI had fielded independent candidates after the Pakistan Election Commission suspended it’s cricket bat symbol days before polls.
While Khan has the most number of independents, Sharif enjoys the backing of Pakistani Army, which plays a significant role in deciding the government formation in the country.
Technicalities are also in favour of Nawaz as PML-N is the single largest party since Khan’s candidates were not associated with PTI or any other political outfit and contested as independents.
According to Pakistan rules, independents will have three days time to extend their support to political party or form their own group.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif’s brother and PML-N Central President Shehbaz Sharif has met PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to form an alliance government.
PML-N and PPP’s combined seat tally is 129, which is more than the current strength of PTI-backed independents.
Moreover, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir has purportedly said that a Pakistan’s interest will be well represented by a unified government.
PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan, however, has said that people’s mandate is in favour of them and all “institutions” should respect that.
He also claimed that President Sirf Alvi will invite his party to form the government and that Imran Khan, who is currently lodged in jail, would decide the next prime minister of Pakistan.
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