The party of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister won the most seats in Pakistan’s parliamentary elections this week in a harsh rebuke from the country’s military leaders.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), backed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was jailed last month, won 97 seats in Pakistan’s National Assembly, its lower house, the country’s election commission reported Saturday, according to the New York Times.
The military-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, or PMLN, led by former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, only won at least 73 seats, the commission said. Seven seats could not be taken, confirming PTI’s majority in parliament.
It marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that a party has won an election without the support of the country’s influential military general — and has sparked political turmoil, according to the Times.
PTI supporters holding a portrait of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Reuters
Both Khan and Sharif declared victory for their parties on Friday following Thursday’s general election, heightening uncertainty over who will form the next government in the troubled country.
Khan’s senior aide said on Saturday the PTI planned to form a government, and urged supporters to protest peacefully if the final election results were not released.
Gohar Khan, the PTI chairman who also acts as the former prime minister’s lawyer, called on “all institutions” in Pakistan to respect his party’s mandate. If the final decision is not issued by Saturday night, he called for a protest on Sunday.
PTI does not have enough candidates to form a simple majority on its own.
Sharif said on Friday that his party had emerged as the single largest group and would hold talks with other groups to form a coalition government.
Polling officials count ballot papers during the general election in Karachi, Pakistan REUTERS
“We invite everyone today to rebuild this wounded Pakistan and sit with us,” he said in a speech in Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province, according to the Times.
Khan’s supporters are contesting as independent candidates as the party has been barred from contesting the election by the election commission for non-compliance with election laws.
Despite the ban — and Khan’s conviction barring him from office — millions of the former cricketer’s loyal supporters turned out in droves to vote for him.
However, under Pakistan’s election laws, independent candidates are not eligible for reserved seats — 70 of which are intended to be distributed according to party strength.
Sharif’s party can get up to 20 of these seats.
Policemen stand guard during a protest by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party REUTERS
The military reportedly expected an easy victory for the PMLN, according to the Times.
Khan was removed from office in 2022 following a parliamentary no-confidence vote amid several scandals.
Last month, Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Pakistan’s military leaders for leaking state secrets and, the next day, he and his wife Bushra Khan were each sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case related to the illegal sale of state gifts.
According to the decision, Khan was barred from holding public office for 10 years.
Thursday’s poll revealed that Khan’s opposition to the military resonated with Pakistanis — especially among young voters, according to the New York Times. The military’s old tactic of demoralizing voters through arrests and long prison sentences for opposition supporters proved ineffective.
On Friday evening, Mr Khan’s party published a victory speech using a computer-generated voice to mimic that of Mr Khan, who has been jailed since August.
“I congratulate you all on your 2024 election victory. I have full confidence that you will all come out to vote,” said the AI-generated voice. “Your large presence has surprised everyone.”
By Postal Wire
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
