Election results in Pakistan: PML-N in coalition discussions with MQM-P and PPP; Nawaz Sharif may become prime minister

In order to work out a formula for the formation of a government, the leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) started talking about the conditions of an alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan, according to The Express Tribune. If an alliance is agreed upon, the PML-N will assume the role of prime minister and reserve the positions of president and speaker of the National Assembly for its allies.

Results were first made public over 12 hours after polls for the national and provincial parliament on Thursday concluded. There were violent incidents during the election that cast a shadow over the process, and Pakistan was heavily criticized for the contentious decision to suspend mobile phone service, which sparked claims of “political engineering.”

Experts believe that the military prefers Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan to become prime minister over three-time previous prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Nonetheless, supporters of Khan, standing as independents, surprised everyone by succeeding and securing the most seats. Leaders of Khan’s party celebrated it as a democratic victory, indicating the public’s desire for reform.

The following are the main election updates from Pakistan:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 76 seats, according to the final official results, while independent candidates backed by the PTI won 97 constituencies. Furthermore, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) obtained 17 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won 54 seats.

Imran Khan’s PTI claims that poll officials “incorrectly altered” the results of at least 18 National Assembly seats, according to a Dawn report.

Shehbaz Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League, was invited to a meeting on Sunday by PPP president Asif Ali Zardari and chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. “Prevent political instability in the country” is the preliminary agreement between the two parties.

On Sunday, the PML-N strengthened its parliamentary dominance by winning the support of the first independent candidate endorsed by Imran Khan’s party. After speaking with Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of party leader Nawaz Sharif, at her home, Wasim Qadir—who had previously been backed by the PTI—became connected with the PML-N and defeated Sheikh Rohail Asghar in Lahore’s National Assembly-121 seat.

In response to the alleged voting irregularities, Khan’s PTI called on its followers in the US and the UK to stage protests.

As stated by AFP, when Imran Khan’s party called for protests outside of poll offices on Sunday, police used tear gas to disperse supporters of the imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan. Clashes have been reported in Lahore and Rawalpindi cities.

Numerous additional rallies were held around the nation as well, all without any negative outcomes. Police put limits on “illegal gatherings” in response to PTI demands for protest.

According to Dawn, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) made a number of decisions that might affect the results of elections in four significant seats. In the NA-15 seat in Mansehra and the NA-47 and NA-48 constituencies in Islamabad, the consolidation of results was put on hold. In Balochistan’s Hub PB-21 constituency, a recount was declared necessary.

According to Dawn, an examination of the preliminary results shows that the number of votes returned unopened surpassed the margin of victory in at least 24 National Assembly seats. Out of them, one each is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, while twenty-two are in Punjab.

Losing candidates have flooded Pakistan’s courts with petitions contesting the preliminary results in their individual seats. Days after the country’s bitterly divided general elections, several petitions were submitted.

Citing constitutional infractions, the PTI demanded that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja retire immediately, according to Pakistan ARY News. According to a PTI spokesman, the CEC and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members need to resign for allegedly violating the constitution.