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7 years ago
New Delhi / Islamabad:

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is on the verge of victory after millions of Pakistanis voted on Wednesday to elect a new government. In his first address to Pakistan after getting massive lead, Imran Khan talked of several key issues facing the nation including poverty and health issues. He also referred to the relations with China and India saying the country could follow China's example in many ways. He also said he was keen to fix ties with India. 

The tense general election in Pakistan was marred by allegations of military interference and a series of deadly attacks. Up to 8 lakh police and military forces were stationed at more than 85,000 polling stations across the country as the voting took place. Wednesday's election was only the second democratic transition of power in Pakistan's 70-year coup-studded history. Pakistan is a country of approximately 207 million people, out of which the number of registered voters are about 106 million. 

More than 3,000 candidates are contesting for 272 general seats of the National Assembly, while some 8,000 candidates ran for 577 general seats of the four provincial assemblies - Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Pak-occupied Balochistan. The three key parties contesting were former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PML-N, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, and former (late) prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party Pakistan Peoples Party, which is being headed by her son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The contest is said to be a close one between Nawaz Sharif's party and Imran Khan's party. The counting of votes began soon after polling was concluded and results are expected to be announced within 24 hours. The Election Commission has blamed delays in the results on technical failures and promised to investigate complaints. 

Here are the LIVE updates of the Pakistan General Election Result 2018:

 Imran Khan's party is leading in 120 of 272 contested National Assembly constituencies. Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in 61 constituencies, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto, the son of assassinated two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, led in 40 constituencies.
Final results will come out within 24 hours. There is no delay. 90 per cent of results have been announced by Returning Officers in the field. we have received 82 per cent out of it: Election Commission of Pakistan
"Free and fair elections have been conducted. Turnout has been impressive, we will share the numbers tomorrow," Election Commission of Pakistan said today, news agency ANI reported

Cleanest Election In History Of Pakistan: Imran Khan
"400 petitions on rigging were filed after previous polls. I had vouched for the issue to be addressed for clean polls this time. We would assist and help investigate claims of rigging": Imran Khan
"If India Moves One Step Forward, We Will Move Two": Imran Khan
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan also referred to India-Pak ties as he addressed Pakistan. Here are highlights
  • "I really want to fix the India-Pakistan ties through dialogue"
  • "The main issue between us is Kashmir but blame game can't continue forever" 
  • "Because of cricket, I want better ties with the neighbour country"
  • "If India moves one step forward, we will move two"


"Potrayed Like The Way Indian Media Portrayed Me," Says Imran Khan
"I am little disappointed by the way Indian media has portrayed me like a Bollywood villain": Imran Khan

"Do Not Want To Live Like A King," Says Imran Khan
"I would not like to live in the prime ministe's house, may make it an educational institution. Badshah key tarah nahin rahenge (Will not live like a king)": Imran Khan
Imran Khan, On Brink Of Victory, Talks Of Business Reforms
"We have to lower cost of doing business, raise ease of doing business. We have to create opportunities for investment": Imran Khan

 "We plan to set up a Medina-like welfare state in Pakistan, like governance system at the time of the Prophet": Imran Khan

"Law Will Now Be Equal For All," Says Imran Khan
Imran Khan Gives China's Example In His First Address After Massive Lead
"I want to work on the China example. China has brought 70 crore people out of poverty: Imran Khan
"Want To Congratulate People Of Pakistan"
"I want to thank all those people who braved the heat and all kinds of difficulties to strengthen our democracy," says Imran Khan as he addresses Pakistan. Here are highlights of his first speech after he secured massive lead in the general election.

  • "I have seen Pakistan's rise and fall, its collapse"
  • "I thank Allah for the struggle of 22 years has brought to me this place and given me a chance to make Pakistan that I dreamt of"
  • "Allah had given me everything that I could have even done alright had I not entered politics"


 
Imran Khan is now addressing Pakistan after getting massive lead in general elections. 
China has said it is ready to work with the new government in Pakistan irrespective of the results.  "Friendship between China and Pakistan is supported by the people of the two countries. Regardless of the result of the election, the development of bilateral ties will not be affected," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 
"Winds Of Change" Tweet As PTI Emerges Single Largest Party In Early Leads
With 48 per cent of the total vote counted, Imran Khan's PTI was listed by the Election Commission in its provisional results as leading in 113 of 272 contested National Assembly constituencies.

Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in 64 constituencies, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by the son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto, led in 42 constituencies.
Imran Khan's party is leading in 119 of 272 contested National Assembly constituencies. Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in 63 constituencies, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto, the son of assassinated two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, led in 38 constituencies.

A supporter of Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), takes a selfie in Rawalpindi (AFP)
Local newspapers and television channels are predicting victory for Imran Khan's party, with the partial results giving him at least 100 seats so far in the National Assembly, the lower house.

A majority of 137 seats is needed to form a government.
"This is complete chaos," said political analyst Azeema Cheema, who said she was "very concerned" about what comes next. "It depends on how the civilian disobedience is being organised. You may have spontaneous riots among political party workers. Then maybe political parties will organise sit-ins and demonstrations," she told news agency AFP.

Pakistani newspapers and television channels are predicting victory for Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, with the partial results giving him at least 100 seats so far in the National Assembly, the lower house. A majority of 137 seats is needed to form a government.
"22 years later, after humiliations, hurdles and sacrifices, my sons' father is Pakistan's next PM. It's an incredible lesson in tenacity, belief & refusal to accept defeat. The challenge now is to remember why he entered politics in the 1st place. Congratulations Imran Khan," Jemima Goldsmith tweeted.
Election officials count votes in Karachi, Pakistan.

Stock Exchange bullish as PTI leads in polls

The stock market shot up nearly 2 per cent in early trading on relief the likely coalition government will not be a weak one. Pakistan faces a mounting economic crisis that is likely to require a bailout by the International Monetary Fund, although PTI has not ruled out seeking succour from China, Islamabad's closest ally.
The stock market shot up nearly 2 percent in early trading on relief the likely coalition government will not be a weak one. Pakistan faces a mounting economic crisis that is likely to require a bailout by the International Monetary Fund, although Imran Khan's PTI has not ruled out seeking succour from China, Islamabad's closest ally.

A Pakistani motorcyclist rides past a billboard featuring an image of Pakistan's cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, a day after the general election in Islamabad (AFP)

A Pakistani resident looks at morning newspapers at a stall a day after the general election in Islamabad today. Pakistan woke to electoral chaos today with the outgoing ruling party denouncing "blatant rigging" in the pivotal general election and rejecting unofficial, partial results suggesting victory for former cricket champion Imran Khan. (AFP)
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which had been in power since 2013, rejected the results because of "outright rigging", and vowed it would use "all political and legal options for redressal of these glaring excesses". "Today what they have done has pushed Pakistan back 30 years... People will not bear it," the party's leader Shahbaz Sharif, brother of jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif, said in a press conference.

A supporter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) waves a party flag as he celebrates during the general election in Rawalpindi (Reuters)

In the eastern city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province and the country's political heartland, PTI supporters rejoiced by waving flags and raising party slogans as results trickled in after the voting yesterday.
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf today inched closer to becoming the single largest party in the country's general elections by leading on 119 seats in an early count of votes, amid charges of rigging by rival political parties.
News agency AFP, quoting local media, said less than half the votes had been counted more than 13 hours after polls closed. The unprecedented delay that has fuelled widespread fears over the legitimacy of the exercise.
Other major parties also alleged fraud, including the once-dominant Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), whose chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari echoed the PML-N's claim that party representatives were barred from monitoring the count, tweeting that the situation was "Inexcusable & outrageous".
The Election Commission of Pakistan dismissed allegations of manipulation, blaming the delay on glitches in new, untested counting software.
Results are still being tallied Thursday morning, hours after Khan's supporters took to the streets to celebrate victory in an election opponents have said the powerful military rigged in his favour. Local media said less than half the votes had been counted more than 13 hours after polls closed, an unprecedented delay that has fuelled widespread fears over the legitimacy of the exercise.
Pakistan woke to electoral chaos on Thursday with the outgoing ruling party denouncing "blatant rigging" in the pivotal general election and rejecting unofficial, partial results suggesting victory for former cricket champion Imran Khan.

A supporter of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, waves a party flag as he celebrates during the general election in Rawalpindi
Imran Khan's party is leading in 119 of 272 contested National Assembly constituencies. Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in 61 constituencies, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by the son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto, led in 40 constituencies.

Supporters of Pakistan's cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, ride on a motorcycle as they celebrate in Rawalpindi after voting closed in the general election. Vote-counting is ongoing in a knife-edge Pakistan general election as the former cricket hero Imran Khan sought power on a day marred by a bloody suicide bombing and claims of military interference. (AFP)
Any potential delays in forming a government would be worrisome, as Pakistan faces a mounting economic crisis that is likely to require a bailout by the International Monetary Fund and worsening relations with on-off ally the United States.
Pakistan's top election official batted away allegations of ballot-rigging Thursday, defending an ongoing delay in the formal vote count as a technical issue. The incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party flat out rejected the pending results of Wednesday's election, citing "outright rigging" and accusing officials of preventing its representatives from overseeing the count.
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party is leading in 112 of 272 contested National Assembly constituencies. Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in 64 constituencies, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by the son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto, led in 44 constituencies.
PML-N alleges vote rigging as Imran Khan tipped for victory

Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has rejected the pending results of Wednesday's election.

PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif -- brother of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif -- alleged "massive rigging" in the election that "will cause irreparable damage to the country".
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman  Bilawal Bhutto Zardari  has raised concern over the counting process.

He said that his party's polling agents were not allowed inside polling stations. "It's now past midnight & I haven't received official results from any constituency I am contesting my myself. My candidates complaining polling agents have been thrown out of polling stations across the country. Inexcusable & outrageous," he tweeted.

Mr Bhutto's party is leading in 42 seats. 
The full results of general election are likely to be delayed, news agency Reuters said quoting Pakistan authorities. 

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary Babar Yaqoob told reporters early on Thursday that counting had been delayed by technical failures in an electronic reporting system and the tallying was now being conducted manually. The results had been due by 2 a.m. (2100 GMT).
Shahbaz Sharif, the leader of the Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), dismissed results from Wednesday's nationwide poll as counting was still underway. "Today what they have done has pushed Pakistan back 30 years... We reject this result," Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of Pakistan's jailed ex-leader Nawaz Sharif, told a press conference in Lahore.
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party is leading in 114 of 272 contested National Assembly constituencies. Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in 64 constituencies, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by the son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto, led in 42 constituencies.

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf celebrate during the counting of the general election in Karachi. Imran Khan's camp was increasingly confident of winning the election, although it still appeared likely to fall short of the 137 seats needed for a majority in the National Assembly, raising the prospect it would need to find coalition partners among smaller parties and independents. (Reuters)


Elections in Pakistan took place this time under the allegations of manipulation by the army and concerns over participation of terrorist and radical groups. 

Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) celebrate during the counting of the general election in Karachi (Reuters)
We Will Take Action, Says Pak Election Commission
Election Commission official Babar Yaqoob promised that all formal complaints would be investigated.

"If there are certain polling stations where they have any complaints, we should be approached. We will take action," Mr Yaqoob said.

But he said he had no knowledge of widespread problems.

"We're getting complaints that on some polling stations where certain parties are losing, their polling agents are leaving without taking the verified results," he said.

Imran Khan has staunchly denied allegations by PML-N that he is getting help from the military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half of its history and still sets key security and foreign policy in the nuclear-armed nation. The army has also dismissed allegations of meddling in the election.
With about 30 per cent of the votes counted in Pakistan elections, Imran Khan's PTI maintains a lead over other parties but is short of the majority mark.

Election Commission Defends Delayed Results
Facing questions about the delay in posting official results, Pakistan Election Commission says 'result transmission service' has stopped, causing the delay.

"Result transmission service stopped working under pressure and has delayed results. Presiding officers have been asked to meet their returning officers, along with army officers assigned to their voting booths, with the results," Babar Yaqoob, ECP Secretary, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Reports suggest the Pak Election Commission is yet to publish a single official result.
'Form 45' Controversy
During the count, outgoing PML-N Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir-Khan tweeted that official result forms were not given at hundreds of polling stations, decrying what he called "blatant, callous, shameless rigging".

The forms, called 'Form 45', are given to polling agents as a proof of certified vote count.

The third major party, the Pakistan Peoples Party, also complained that its polling agents were asked to leave during the vote count in a number of voting centres.

"This is the warning bell of a serious threat," said PPP senator Sherry Rehman. "This whole election could be null and void, and we don't want this."

Several smaller parties made similar complaints in public statements.
Prospect Of Weeks Of Haggling

The results in Pakistan could throw up scenarios that could delay the formation of a government.

Imran Khan, who is leading in the partial results, has staunchly denied allegations by PML-N that he is getting help from the military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half of its history and still sets key security and foreign policy in the nuclear-armed nation. The army has also dismissed allegations of meddling in the election.

Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has inched ahead of PML-N in recent national polls, but even if it gets the most votes, it will likely struggle to win a majority, raising the prospect of weeks of haggling to form a messy coalition government.

Such a delay could further imperil Pakistan's economy, with a looming currency crisis expected to force the new government to turn to the IMF for Pakistan's second bailout since 2013. PTI has not ruled out seeking succour from China, Islamabad's closest ally.
Nawaz Sharif's PML-N rejects election count amid rigging complaints
The party of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif rejected the eventual results of Wednesday's general election, alleging rigging during the counting process.

Mr Sharif's party has accused the military for weeks of attempting to throw the election to opposition figure Imran Khan, a former cricket star and anti-corruption crusader.

Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and brother of the ousted prime minister, early on Thursday rejected the counting process as results were still trickling out and no winner had been declared but projections showed a strong lead for Khan.

"We reject this result," Shehbaz Sharif said.
Nawaz Sharif's party PML-N rejects election results, alleges rigging: news agency AFP
Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, others including PPP and MQM, have formally complained of voter fraud as Imran Khan's party maintains lead.
A spokeswoman for Nawaz Sharif's party said there were already "serious reservations" about the vote count after reports that soldiers stationed in polling stations had thrown out political parties' monitors during the tabulations.
Early projections from four local TV channels are all putting Imran Khan's party PTI ahead, estimating it would win between 94 and 102 of 272 elected seats available, while Nawaz Sharif's outgoing ruling party was estimated at between 40 and 58. However, those projections were based on only about 10-15 percent of votes counted.
Imran Khan's party PTI tweets, "Mubarak ho Pakistan! PTI is all set to make its own next government in Pakistan! Analysts predicting a clear majority of 136+ Seats for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf now. InshaAllah."


Pakistan Election Results - What We Know

Pakistan is locked in a close and tense election race, pitting cricket hero Imran Khan against the party of jailed ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a process marred by a suicide bomb that killed 31 people near a polling station.

Neither Mr Khan nor Mr Sharif's party appeared likely to win a clear majority in the too-close-to-call election, with results likely to be known by around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday (2:30 am IST).

The outcome could lead to a weak coalition government at a time when Pakistan urgently needs to address a foreign currency crisis and may need to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a second bailout in five years.

About 106 million people were registered to vote in polls that closed at 6 p.m.
Imran Khan's PTI maintains lead over Nawaz Sharif's PML(N) as more votes are counted in Pak elections.



Jul 25, 2018 20:27 (IST)