Pakistan’s General Elections: No Clear Majority as Imran Khan Claims Victory
Pakistan’s general elections have concluded with no political force securing a clear majority. Imran Khan, the jailed former Prime Minister, is claiming victory as independent candidates linked to him have won the majority of seats so far. However, another ex-PM, Nawaz Sharif, insists that his party has emerged as the largest and urges others to join him in a coalition. Coalition talks between Mr. Sharif’s PML-N party and other groups are reportedly underway. The final official results are yet to be announced.
Imran Khan, who is currently in jail on politically motivated charges, posted a video message on X claiming a landslide victory for his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. He congratulated his supporters for making history in the 2024 election. The success of PTI-linked candidates was unexpected, as most experts believed that Nawaz Sharif, backed by the country’s powerful military, was the clear favorite.
Despite PTI not being a recognized party after being barred from running in the election, technically, Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) is the largest official political group. The political horse-trading has already begun, indicating that it may take some time before anyone can claim outright victory.
In a speech on Friday, Nawaz Sharif acknowledged that he did not have enough numbers to form a government alone. However, he urged other candidates to join him in a coalition and promised to lead the country out of difficult times. Imran Khan’s former special assistant, Zulifkar Bukhari, stated that PTI would not form a coalition with any of the main parties but would join under one banner to be in parliament.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto, the son of assassinated PM Benazir Bhutto, appears to be the third biggest party in the elections. Analysts have described these elections as one of the most divisive and dangerous that Pakistan’s chronically unstable democracy has ever faced.
The UK and US have expressed concerns over restrictions on electoral freedoms during the vote. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Pakistani authorities to uphold fundamental human rights, including free access to information and the rule of law. The US State Department also criticized the restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as attacks on media workers and restrictions on internet and telecommunication services.
Many analysts have deemed these elections as among Pakistan’s least credible. Voters in Lahore reported difficulties due to an internet blackout on polling day, making it impossible to book taxis or coordinate with family members to go and vote. The interior ministry defended the blackouts, citing security reasons. The support of the military is crucial for political success in Pakistan, and analysts believe that Nawaz Sharif and his party currently have their backing.
Maya Tudor, an associate professor at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, described Imran Khan’s lead as “shocking” in the context of Pakistan’s history, where the military’s preferred candidate has always won. The elections saw a total of 128 million registered voters, with almost half of them being under the age of 35. Out of over 5,000 candidates, only 313 were women. Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, Maleeha Lodhi, emphasized the need for political stability to address the country’s worst economic crisis while also highlighting the belief in the democratic process shown by the high voter turnout.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s general elections have resulted in no clear majority for any political force. Imran Khan claims victory while being in jail, but Nawaz Sharif insists his party is the largest and seeks coalition partners. The elections have faced criticism for restrictions on electoral freedoms, and analysts have expressed concerns about the credibility of the process. The support of the military is seen as crucial for political success, and the final official results are yet to be announced.