Imran races to power
Khan’s PTI leading in 103 seats; PML- N in 59
Islamabad, July 25: Pakistan’s flamboyant cricketer- turned- politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek- e- Insaf ( PTI) was leading in 103 seats while its main rival Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz ( PML- N) was way behind with 59 seats in an election marred by a deadly suicide attack and allegations of manipulations by the powerful military.
The Pakistan Peoples Party ( PPP) of former President Asif Ali Zardari was leading in 34 seats, a sign that he could be a “kingmaker” in case of a hung Parliament, according to media reports.
According to the latest trends available for 252 of the National Assembly’s 272 seats, independents were leading in 18 seats.
Pakistan’s National Assembly comprises a total of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected whereas the rest — 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for religious minorities — are selected later through proportional representation among parties with more than five per cent of the vote.
A party can only form the government if it manages to clinch 172 seats in total. PML- N chief Shahbaz Sharif, who is hoping to become the next prime minister, was leading in Karachi WestII, according to trends. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was leading in Larkana I.
In a tweet, PTI claimed that Imran Khan had won from Karachi East 2. “Pakistanio!! In a landslide victory, Karachi has been liberated after decades of Thappa Mafia,” PTI tweeted. In Lahore, Imran Khan is leading the polls with 726 votes.
Khan is contesting elections from five constituencies — Islamabad 2, Karachi East 2, Lahore 9, Mianwali 1 and NA- 35 Bannu.
Meanwhile, the
A single party needs 137 of the directly elected 272 seats to be able to form the government on its own Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP could play ‘ kingmaker’ in case of hung Parliament
Election Commission of Pakistan has sent a notice to Imran Khan for voting in full public view and in front of the cameras — a violation of the code of conduct. However, the party said he did not violate any rules and urged the EC to take note of the “fake news” being circulated, Dawn reported.
Earlier in the day, voting was marred by reports of violence and a deadly suicide blast near Quetta, that killed over 35 people and left 67 injured.
Islamabad, July 25: Votecounting was ongoing Wednesday in a knifeedge Pakistan general election as former cricket hero Imran Khan sought power on a day marred by a bloody suicide bombing and allegations of ‘ military interference in counting of ballots’.
As election workers sorted through massive piles of paper ballots, several parties — including the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz, Khan’s main rival — alleged the count was being manipulated.
“We have serious reservations ... The counting process has been carried out behind closed doors and our polling agents have been taken out,” PML- N spokesman Marriyum Aurangzeb said in televised comments.
“Results of both the ( provincial and national) assemblies have been withheld, we want an answer for that. What change are they going to bring behind closed doors?”
Her allegations were echoed by other parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party ( PPP), which could become kingmaker in a coalition government.
In a WhatsApp message, the PML- N also claimed that security forces had taken over polling stations.
The Election Commission’s secretary Babar Yaqoob flatly denied the allegations. Gallup Pakistan estimated turnout at between 50 to 55 percent in an electorate of nearly 106 million, similar to the previous contest in 2013.
There were more than 19 million new potential voters, including millions of women and young people.
A suicide bombing in the southwestern city of Quetta, claimed by the Islamic State ( IS) group, killed at least 31 people and cast a shadow over voting day. Local officials said when the bomber tried to enter a polling station police stopped him, and he blew himself up.
It was the second major attack by IS this month in Balochistan province after an earlier blast at a campaign rally killed 153.