Pakistan election results 2024 Highlights: Imran Khan to decide next PM, claims PTI chief

The Commonwealth election observers’ mission in Pakistan said on Saturday that barring a few incidents, the election process was held smoothly.

Jonathan Goodluck, the head of the mission, delivered the preliminary findings of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) in Islamabad. (PTI)

A massive protest erupted in Muzaffarabad city in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Saturday, where people protested against miserable living conditions in the region.

A noted political activist, Toqeer Gilani, accused Pakistan of "betraying" the people of PoK compelling them to live a "miserable life." (PTI)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday claimed that President Arif Alvi would invite his party to form the government as they had secured a majority in the National Assembly, according to a media report.

To form a government, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly. Election to one seat was postponed after the death of a candidate. (PTI)

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) today held a party meeting to discuss the formation of the government. The party led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has won 73 seats so far.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the counting of 255 out of 266 seats of the National Assembly has been completed.

The independent candidates, a vast majority of them backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, are on the top with 101 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)with 73 seats and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54 seats.

Results are yet to be declared for 9 seats.

According to Al Jazeera, supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party are staging a protest rally in Lahore amid claims that the delay in the announcement of results is allowing authorities to rig the votes.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the party is thinking about the losses in its traditional strongholds, adding that the party was not “insensitive or oblivious” to it, reports Dawn.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has told Geo News that his party has not had any official conversation with PML-N, the PTI or any other political parties regarding a possible coalition.

On being asked if he or his father, Asif Zardari, had any meeting with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal said that he is in no position to confirm

“I am in no position to confirm any such meeting. When all the results are in front of us, we will be in a position to engage with others,” he said.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: According to The Express Tribune, several petitions have been filed in the Lahore High Court contesting the victories of key PML-N candidates, including three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Aleem Khan.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has said that an engineered election and fabricated results would lead to the formation of a counterfeit government. In a post on X, he emphasised that Pakistan would not tolerate such an outcome.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: “Pakistan needs free and fair elections, which includes transparency in counting votes and respect for the results. 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,” Pakistan's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai wrote on X.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: As per the latest tally posted on the election commission’s website, independent candidates had won 100 seats. They are well ahead of the 72 seats secured by the PML-N in second position and the PPP’s 54, reports Al Jazeera.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Imran Khan-led Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf has termed the nationwide disruption to X (formerly known as Twitter) as “absolutely shameful”.

“This is absolutely shameful. After closing mobile services in Pakistan during election day, they have no blocked X in Pakistan because PTI was exposing the rigging!!” PTI wrote on the social media.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is experiencing a nationwide disruption in Pakistan, Internet monitor Netblocks has reported.

“Live metrics show a nation-scale disruption to X/Twitter across #Pakistan; the incident comes amid political turmoil after a controversial election held under an internet and mobile network blackout,” Netblocks wrote on X.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: While addressing a press conference, PTI chairperson Barrister Gohar, says that party founder Imran Khan will decide who will be the next prime minister of Pakistan, reports The Express Tribune.

"Who will be the next prime minister, Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi sb will decide. He is the one, always, and he is the leader whether he is in jail or outside," he says.

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf says that a banner for independents would be announced within 24 hours, reports Al Jazeera.

“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,” says Zulfi Bukhari, Imran Khan’s close aide.

As per law, independent candidates in Pakistan cannot form a government on their own and need to join a party. They can nominate affiliation to any party within 72 hours.

To form a government in Pakistan, a party must win 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly.

Pakistan President Arif Alvi asserts that the election result delay could have been avoided if electronic voting machines (EVMs) were in use.

“Remember 'our' long struggle for Electronic Voting Machines. EVM had paper ballots that could be counted separately by hand (like it is being done today) BUT it also had a simple electronic calculator/counter of each vote button pressed. Totals of every candidate would have been available & printed within five minutes of the closing of poll,” he wrote on X.

He adds: “The entire effort that included more than 50 meetings at the Presidency alone was scuttled. Had EVMs been there today, my dear beloved Pakistan would have been spared this crisis.”

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Khan has claimed that candidates backed by his party are ahead on 170 National Assembly seats out of the 265, reports Dawn.

“We claim with great certitude that right now, the PTI has achieved a lead on 170 seats of the National Assembly. “Out of these, 94 are those that the ECP is admitting and has issued Form-47 (provisional results).”

Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar tells TRT World that he anticipates the formation of a coalition government.

“It appears that no single party is poised to form the government independently. I anticipate the formation of a coalition — a coalition of whosoever,” he says.

Addressing reporters, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Khan says that all institutions in Pakistan should respect the mandate given to their party, reports Reuters. He also warned of protests if complete poll results are not announced by tonight.

“If complete poll results are not announced by tonight, we will hold peaceful protests tomorrow,” he says, according to Reuters.

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Khan, a close aide of jailed former PM Imran Khan, says that his party will try to form the national government as their candidates have won the most seats in the polls.

PTI-backed candidates from two constituencies of Islamabad – NA-47 and NA-48 – have challenged election results in the Islamabad High Court, reports The Express Tribune.

The results were challenged by Shoaib Shaheen and Ali Bukhari, who have also requested for the plea to be heard today.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has not released official information about voter turnout, saying it will do so once all the results are out. However, according to the Free and Fair Election Network, an independent watchdog, about 60 million out of more than 128 million registered voters cast their ballots in Thursday’s polls. That’s about 47% turnout, lower than the one for the 2018 parliamentary polls.

Earlier today, Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan claimed victory in the Pakistan general elections 2024 through a pre-recorded audio-visual message created using artificial intelligence, hours after his political rival and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif claimed to have won the election. Here's what all he said.

Ex-MNA Mohsin Dawar, who got injured in a firing incident in North Waziristan's Miran Shah, has been taken to a district hospital.

National Democratic Movement (NDM) leader Bushra Gohar tells Dawn that several others were also injured in the incident.

According to Geo News, the Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has clinched an unprecedented victory in five out of six administrative divisions in the interior Sindh.

His party has won 37 out of 39 National Assembly seats and 74 out of 83 Sindh Assembly seats.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Following Mohsin Dawar's injury in a shooting, Bushra Gohar, the leader of the National Democratic Movement, expressed her attempts to reach the North Waziristan district commissioner. She emphasised the necessity for an urgent inquiry into the unlawful attack on peaceful protestors.

Gohar said on X, “I also wanted to ask them to make arrangements for shifting Dawar and others critically injured to Peshawar.”

Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal also condemned the attack. He said, “Everything is being done to change results. We stand united with Mohsin Dawar during this time. Prayers for his quick recovery.”

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Mohsin Dawar sustained injuries in a shooting incident in Miranshah, North Waziristan, as confirmed by his party leader Bushra Gohar. Dawar, leading the National Democratic Movement, was a candidate in the NA-40 constituency, where he had previously raised concerns about potential election rigging. This incident follows a gun attack on his convoy in the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over a month ago, from which he also survived.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Pakistan's foreign office, in a statement on Saturday, said that international comments on the nation's elections ignore the "undeniable fact" of Pakistan conducting elections successfully.

The United States, Britain and the European Union on Friday expressed concerns about Pakistan's election after Thursday's vote, urging a probe of reported irregularities.

Reuters

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: An anti-terrorism court has approved bail for Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the case related to the May 9 incident.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates : Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has led US lawmakers in alleging that the Pakistani military has been "rigging" the just-held general elections to "prop up" its candidate and deny the victory secured by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

Khanna, a Democrat lawmaker, alleged that the Pakistani military is supporting the current prime minister even though the people have voted for Imran Khan. He also urged the Biden administration not to recognise an illegitimate government in Pakistan.

PTI

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: A Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report on Pakistan elections revealed that in the 2024 general elections, the voter base of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) saw an increase.

Contrarily, the vote bank of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained unchanged during the same period, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Election Result 2024 Live Updates: Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Neil Hawkins released a statement on Saturday expressing condolences for the loss of life and regret for the restrictions imposed on the people of Pakistan.

The statement read, “As a friend of Pakistan, Australia has consistently called for a free, fair, inclusive and credible election process - in line with Pakistan's Constitution and its international obligations.”

It added, “We express our condolences for the loss of life incurred by terrorist attacks in the lead-up to and during elections. Australia welcomes the increase in the number of women registered to vote and the fact that millions of Pakistanis chose to vote. It is regrettable, however, that the Pakistani people were restricted in their choice, since not all political parties were allowed to contest these elections.”

The statement further said, “Australia supports a democratic, stable and prosperous Pakistan which upholds its commitments to democratic principles including human rights, media freedoms, freedom of expression, and freedom of association. As a long-standing partner we look forward to working with Pakistan towards a shared vision of an open, stable, prosperous and inclusive region.”

Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: In the aftermath of numerous victories by independent candidates affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the 2024 general elections, the former ruling party has scheduled a meeting to deliberate on potential alliances with other political entities.

The meeting, which will be attended by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Asad Qaiser, Ali Muhammad Khan, and other key figures, aims to address the formation of new central and provincial governments, as announced by the PTI.

On Friday, the PTI asserted its ability to establish a government at the center and dismissed the possibility of forming an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly — PPP secured 4 seats. PTI-backed candidates secured 79 seats. PML-N attained 5 seats, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: In the Balochistan Assembly — PPP and PML-N secured 9 seats, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: In the Sindh Assembly — PPP secured 82 seats. Whereas, PTI-backed independent candidates have won 12 seats

Pakistan Election Results 2024 Live Updates: In the Punjab Assembly — PPP secured 10 seats. PTI-backed candidates secured 116 seats. Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N attained 134 seats, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Elections LIVE: In the National Assembly —The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured 53 seats. Independents backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 97 seats. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) attained 73 seats, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Elections LIVE: Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir said, “Elections and democracy are means to serve people of Pakistan and not ends in themselves. The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 million people. Elections are not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing but an exercise to determine the mandate of the people. Political leadership and their workers should rise above self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people which is perhaps the only way to make democracy functional and purposeful.”

He added, “As the people of Pakistan have reposed their combined trust in the Constitution of Pakistan, it is now incumbent upon all political parties to reciprocate the same with political maturity and unity. As we move forward from this national milestone we must reflect on where the country stands today and where our rightful place should be in the comity of nations.”

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has extended congratulations to the nation for the successful completion of the 2024 general elections.

In a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), General Munir also commended the caretaker government, Election Commission of Pakistan, political parties, and all the victorious candidates.

As reported by Dawn News, he said in a statement, “Free and unhindered participation by Pakistani people to exercise their right of vote demonstrated their commitment to democracy and the rule of law as enshrined in Constitution of Pakistan.”

“Leadership and personnel of law-enforcement agencies deserve our highest appreciation for creating a safe and secure environment for the electoral process, despite overwhelming odds…The constructive role played by national media, civil society, members of civil administration and judiciary enabled the successful conduct of the largest electoral exercise in national history.”

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), independent candidates are currently leading in the National Assembly (NA) with 99 secured seats, while PML-N has attained 71 seats. The PPP has secured 53 seats in the NA, and MQM-P has secured 17, The Express Tribune reported.

Moreover, PML-Q has won 3 seats thus far, while the IPP and JUI-F have secured 2 seats each. MWM, BNP, and PML-Z have each secured one seat.

Pakistani political parties Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have reached an agreement to establish a coalition government at both the federal and provincial levels as the vote tallies from several constituencies continue to trickle in, extending into the third day.

During a meeting, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif engaged with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari, extending an invitation to collaborate for the betterment of Pakistan. The discussions also included plans for government formation in the future, Geo News reported.

The meeting took place at the residence of Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, where Shehbaz conferred with the top leadership of PPP. Among the topics discussed was the conveyance of a message from Nawaz Sharif, indicating a spirit of cooperation moving forward, as per insider sources.

US Senator Ben Cardin, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has stated his commitment to "addressing the issues that have a significant impact on the Pakistani populace," which includes "advancing democracy and human rights within the nation."

“Elections were sadly overshadowed by actions that prevented the meaningful participation of all political parties and candidates,” he said in a statement.

Cardin added, “I condemn in the strongest terms the deadly bombings at election campaign offices in Balochistan and send my condolences to the victims and their families. These attacks must be investigated and the perpetrators need to be held accountable…I look forward to continuing to find opportunities where the United States and Pakistan can advance our shared goals of security, stability and prosperity across South Asia.”

According to Dawn News, Pakistan's recent general elections resulted in a fractured mandate, with Independents supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerging as frontrunners. This development has sparked speculation about the possibility of Pakistan electing its first-ever Independent Prime Minister, given the country's ongoing challenges, particularly on the economic front.

Despite accusations of electoral misconduct leveled against the PTI, Independents backed by the party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan were leading in numerous constituencies during the vote tally.

In contrast to the prevailing trends, Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), prematurely delivered a victory speech, expressing readiness to establish a coalition government.

However, if the reported trends circulating in certain Pakistani media outlets and social media platforms remain consistent, Pakistan might be on the verge of forming a government composed largely of Independent candidates.

Pakistan is entering a phase of political negotiations following the release of the final election results on Saturday, which revealed no clear majority but a notable performance by independent candidates allied with imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Despite facing obstacles such as a prolonged crackdown on campaigning that led their candidates to contest as independents, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demonstrated resilience in Thursday's election, challenging their main opponents, AFP reported.

Amidst allegations of vote-rigging and prolonged delays in the announcement of results, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), supported by the military, claimed victory as the party with the highest number of seats. However, to establish a government, the party, led by three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will need to negotiate alliances with rival parties and independent candidates.

Reports emerged late Friday of leaders from various parties converging in Lahore, the stronghold of PML-N, for discussions.

Nawaz Sharif said on Friday, “Pakistan Muslim League is the single-largest party in the country today after the elections and it is our duty to bring this country out of the whirlpool.”

“It would have been good if we had got a full mandate and emerged as the majority party and formed government, but even then, we would have invited other parties to join us and walk with us. But since we don’t have such a majority that we can form the government on our own, we will invite other allied parties that have been successful in the election to join us and jointly form a government and jointly get Pakistan out of its difficulties.”

Imran Khan said in an AI message, “You don't have to be scared…Celebrate the win…Even after two years of massive oppression and injustice, we have won the 2024 election with full force.”

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US Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin said on X, “I echo the State Dept's call for a full investigation of any claims of election interference or fraud in Pakistan. The people of Pakistan deserve a free and fair opportunity to make their voices heard through the democratic process.”

Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, the leaders of PML-N and PPP respectively, reportedly convened for a meeting in Lahore on Friday, sources from the PPP told Dawn.

This gathering occurred shortly after Nawaz Sharif declared triumph in the recent general elections and extended an invitation to his allies to establish a coalition government.

Both the PPP and PML-N were integral components of the PDM government, succeeding the PTI administration following Imran Khan's removal from the prime ministerial position in 2022.

The possibility of a political deadlock in Pakistan, potentially leading to delays in both reforms and vital foreign funding, has triggered a sell-off in its global bonds and heightened analysts' concerns about further economic woes for the nation.

Following Thursday's election, the results revealed a surprisingly strong performance by independent candidates, primarily supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan People's Party headed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari trailing behind.

Although Sharif has laid claim to victory, his party falls significantly short of the required number of seats to independently form a government, Reuters reported.

The election, which itself faced considerable delays, arrives at a crucial juncture.

Pakistan's recent general elections resulted in a divided mandate on Friday, as independent candidates supported by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party clinched remarkable victories, edging ahead of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

Despite the elections being perceived as mostly transparent and equitable on Thursday, the announcement of results faced unusual delays, fueling accusations of manipulation and ballot tampering. Even on Friday evening, more than 24 hours after polling concluded, results were still being reported gradually.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan's tally at 11 PM, out of the 136 seats tabulated from the 265 contested, independent candidates backed by Khan had secured 49, PML-N 42, and PPP 34. However, Geo News, a prominent TV channel, recorded 237 seats counted by the same time, with independent candidates (largely supported by PTI) leading in 95 seats, followed by 67 for PML-N and 52 for PPP.

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The United States, Britain, and the European Union on Friday separately expressed concerns about Pakistan's electoral process in the wake of a vote on Thursday and urged a probe into reported irregularities.

The main battle was between former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party and candidates backed by ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. Both declared victory separately, Reuters reports.

Elections were held for 265 seats in the National Assembly, and a political party needs 133 seats for a simple majority.

The U.S. and the EU both mentioned allegations of interference, including arrests of activists, and added that claims of irregularities, interference, and fraud should be fully investigated.

On Friday, former Pakistani prime ministers and long-standing rivals Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan each proclaimed victory in elections characterized by delayed results and militant assaults, plunging the country into further political disarray.

While Sharif's party secured the most seats by a single party in Thursday's election, supporters of imprisoned Khan, compelled to run as independents after his party was barred from the polls, clinched the highest number of seats overall, Reuters reported.

Sharif announced his party's intention to engage with other factions to establish a coalition government, recognizing its failure to secure a clear majority independently.

This declaration from Sharif came after over three-quarters of the 265 seats had disclosed results, marking more than 24 hours since polling concluded on Thursday amidst militant attacks that claimed 28 lives.