Islamabad: Pakistan finds itself at a crossroads as the release of final election results has intensified political turmoil, leading to widespread protests across the country. The former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has alleged poll rigging, adding a layer of complexity to an already uncertain political landscape.
According to sources quoting the election commission, candidates allied to Imran Khan’s PTI party have secured 97 out of the 265 National Assembly seats. On the other side, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), led by Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has won 76 seats, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has secured 54 seats. The presence of other smaller parties has further complicated the negotiations for forming a government.
A surprising resurgence has been witnessed from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which secured 17 seats, while several other smaller parties collectively gained 20 seats. With no clear majority emerging, the race to secure the required 134 seats for government formation is shrouded in uncertainty.
The PTI’s allegations of poll rigging and the subsequent calls for protests have added tension to an already volatile situation. Demonstrations have erupted across the nation, with citizens expressing concern over the integrity of the electoral process and demanding transparency in the results.
The polling for 265 National Assembly seats out of a total of 336 took place on Thursday against a backdrop of economic and political turmoil, coupled with a surge in terror attacks. The heightened security concerns have further fueled the public’s apprehensions about the stability of the political scenario.
As political leaders engage in complex negotiations and the situation unfolds, the nation remains on edge, awaiting clarity on which party or coalition will eventually form the government. The outcome of these deliberations will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of Pakistan’s political future in the coming weeks.