South Asia
Final results published after parliamentary elections in Pakistan
A poster with the picture of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad. Pakistan’s elections were overshadowed by internet blocks and allegations of manipulation. photo
© Anjum Naveed/AP/dpa
Pakistan has voted – but who will now govern is unclear. Independent candidates became the strongest force; no one has a majority in parliament.
The Muslim League PML-N of the election favorite Nawaz Sharif follows with 75 seats, Pakistan’s People’s Party PPP led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari comes in third place with 54 seats. Eleven other parties are moving into the National Assembly with a total of 34 mandates. The results present the nuclear power with a difficult time forming a government. Both Khan’s opposition party and business mogul Sharif claim victory in the election. However, Sharif is likely to have the best chance with a coalition.
Pakistan’s elections were overshadowed by internet blocks and allegations of manipulation. There were initially no results from two constituencies; in one of the cases there was no vote because of the murder of a candidate.
Since Pakistan’s independence over 75 years ago as a result of the partition of British India, there have been repeated unrest and instability in the country. The military ruled for more than half of this time. Even among civilian governments, generals were seen as the force that could determine the success or failure of the political leadership.