In a surprising turn of events, candidates allied with the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), defied a military-led crackdown and accusations of widespread rigging to win the most seats in Pakistan’s recent election. Despite Khan serving multiple sentences totaling over a decade in jail, his party declared a stunning victory, securing over 90 seats with more than three-quarters of the votes counted. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) led by three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, previously seen as the favorite, won 69 seats, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured 52.
Imran Khan, although incarcerated, claimed victory through an AI-generated audio-visual message, urging supporters to celebrate the unexpected triumph. The military, traditionally a political power broker in Pakistan, was believed to favor Sharif, but the large voter turnout for PTI-backed candidates reportedly thwarted attempts to manipulate the results.
Despite PTI’s lead, forming a government poses a challenge due to an election commission ruling that forced PTI candidates to register as independents, prohibiting them from campaigning under their party name or symbol. Sharif, however, declared victory and invited other political parties to form a coalition government, excluding PTI.
Amidst allegations of rigging, protests erupted in some provinces, resulting in two fatalities. The UK expressed concern over delays and irregularities in the counting process. Sharif’s proposed coalition, excluding PTI, raises concerns about legitimacy and stability, especially during a severe economic crisis.
