Pakistan elections were controversial from the beginning. Before the elections, after the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and cancellation of the party symbol of his party Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), analysts were saying that Nawaz Sharif and his party Pakistan Muslim League-e (PML-N) would win this election with the support of the army.
But, once the counting of votes started, all calculations seemed to change.
Independents supported by Imran’s PTI are leading in most of the seats. The biggest shock so far has been the news of Nawaz Sharif losing to an independent candidate. Nawaz’s PML-N is struggling to stop Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with military support.
Prime Ministerial candidate and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif lost to independent candidate Shahzada Gastasap in Mansehra (constituency NA-15) in Thursday’s (February 8) general election. Shahzada Gastasap is said to be the candidate supported by Imran Khan’s party PTI.
According to the unofficial results obtained from the National Assembly Constituency NA-15 Mansehra, Shahzada Gastasap won by getting 74 thousand 713 votes, while Mian Nawaz Sharif got 63 thousand 54 votes. It is considered a big defeat for Nawaz Sharif. Although he is contesting in one more seat.
This unexpected result is being considered as a major setback in the electoral scenario of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not released the official results of the polls even after 12 hours of polling. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has alleged that the announcement of the results is being delayed as candidates supported by the party win. According to observers, the delay in declaring the results this time is “unusual” considering the past elections.
The PTI alleged that the announcement of election results was being delayed as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed candidates won. The party leaders also alleged that the screens in front of the Returning Officer’s office where the results were being displayed were also shut down in many places.
Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party says the delay in the results is a sign of vote rigging. PTI has also warned that the result of trying to change people’s verdict by conspiracy will not be good.
Apart from this, unofficial results broadcast on local TV channels so far indicate that independent candidates supported by PTI are leading in the polls in various regions of the country. Meanwhile, Election Commission of Pakistan Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal blamed “internet issues” for the delay in the results. He made this claim while announcing the official result of a constituency.
