Imran Khan claims victory in Pakistan

CRICKET star turned politician Imran Khan declared victory for his party in Pakistan’s elections.

Mr Khan, who aspires to be the country’s next prime minister, said in a televised address to the nation that “thanks to God, we won and we were successful”.

He added that “if God wills, we will set an example” and promised to build a “new” Pakistan.

Pakistan’s election commission has not yet released official, final results but Mr Khan has maintained a commanding lead according to projections by many television stations, though it is unclear if he will have to form a coalition. Mr Khan’s message of a “new” Pakistan resonated with young voters in a country where 64% of its 200 million people are below the age of 30. Projections say Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is getting as many as 119 of the 270 National Assembly seats that were contested. But before even half the votes were counted, Mr Khan’s leading rival Shahbaz Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League – the party of jailed ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif – rejected the vote, generating fears that the losers could delay the formation of the next government. RESCUE crews are continuing to search on land and at sea for potential further victims from Greece’s deadly forest fires. Frantic relatives looking for missing loved ones have even been heading to the morgue in Athens.