Khan’s party has Pakistani lawmakers’ support

Cricket star has backing for coalition government

ISLAMABAD — The party of cricket star Imran Khan on Saturday claimed it had acquired the support of the lawmakers required to form a coalition government after winning this week’s polls, as a secular party angered over alleged fraud rallied in the northwest.

“People have voted us into power and God willing, we will form a government,” said Fawad Chaudhry, the spokesman for Khan’s party.

He did not say exactly how many lawmakers had agreed to join their future government, saying the announcement would be made when the National Assembly convenes next week for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected lawmakers.

His comment came hours after Pakistan’s elections oversight body released its final results, saying Khan won 115 of 269 contested seats in the National Assembly, while his nearest rival, Shahbaz Sharif ’s Pakistan Muslim League, won 64 seats. Initially it had said Khan won 116 seats.

The party of former president Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan People’s Party, bagged 43 seats.

Chaudhry said that the success of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the general elections meant the end of decadeslong dynastic rule in Pakistan.

Still, several members of Khan’s party are members of Pakistan’s traditional ruling elite. He brought them on board as so-called “electables” he needed to win at the polls.

More than 2,000 supporters of the secular Awami National Party rallied in the town of Charsadda against fraud in the vote, in which it got one seat. A small demonstration was also held in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, and the party called for another one on Monday.

Also Saturday, four newly elected independent lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly joined Khan’s party after meeting with him.

Imran Khan