Imran Khan prepares to form govt as opposition demands ‘transparent’ re-election
Contacts leaders of different parties and independent candidates; PTI says it has clinched 137 National Assembly seats, needs 172 seats in all to form government
Contacts leaders of different parties and independent candidates; PTI says it has clinched 137 National Assembly seats, needs 172 seats in all to form government
The country seemed to head for a hung National Assembly late on Wednesday, as the leads from counting centres showed no party getting a clear-cut majority.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of former president Asif Ali Zardari was leading on 28 seats, indicating that he could play a 'kingmaker' in case of a hung parliament, according to media reports.
The elections are being held as emotions run high over a graft case that led to the imprisonment of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
Millions of voters queued up to vote in Pakistan's 11th general elections, with some history-making events also taking place in the conservative areas where women are usually not allowed to take part in an activity outside their homes.
Unlike women and religious minorities, transgenders do not have any reserved seats in parliament or the provincial houses.
Hawkers are reportedly being subjected to continual harassment, threats and physical coercion while attempting to deliver copies of Dawn to regular subscribers.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 3,459 candidates are contesting from 272 general seats of the National Assembly, while 8,396 candidates are running for 577 general seats of the four provincial assemblies.
Abubakar is leading a 24-member delegation of Commonwealth Election Observers Group to observe the polls.
