Advertisement

Imran Khan declares victory in Pakistani election

By Susan McFarland and Danielle Haynes
Supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party celebrate at the end of the election day Wednesday in Rawalpindi. Thursday, party leader Imran Khan, was ahead in the preliminary election results. Photo by T. Mughal/EPA-EFE
Supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party celebrate at the end of the election day Wednesday in Rawalpindi. Thursday, party leader Imran Khan, was ahead in the preliminary election results. Photo by T. Mughal/EPA-EFE

July 26 (UPI) -- Former cricket star Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, declared victory in Pakistan's election Thursday.

Khan's PTI Party secured at least 105 of the 272 National Assembly seats, with preliminary results in for 228 seats. Since that won't give the party a clear majority, it'll need to assemble a coalition in order to form a government.

Advertisement

At least 137 seats is required for a majority.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) was in second with 58 seats, the Pakistan Peoples Party had 28 seats, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal had five, PML-Q had four and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan had three.

More than 30 political parties and 12,570 candidates competed for the support of 106 million registered voters in Wednesday's election, which determines the national and four provincial assemblies.

The victory is not yet recognized by the outgoing PML-N, which said the results were rigged and accused election officials of preventing its representatives from overseeing the count.

The Election Commission of Pakistan refuted the allegations and said a glitch in the new electronic system delayed the vote count, but the election results were "100 percent fair and transparent."

Advertisement

The vote was marred by violence. Wednesday, dozens of people were killed when a bomb went off near a Quetta polling station.

The blast, targeting a police convoy, killed two police officers and injured 40 people hours after polls opened. Authorities reported at least 29 dead.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested this month after on charges of owning assets beyond income and failing to cooperate with Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau.

Latest Headlines