Prime Minister Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its affiliated parties won the most seats in Pakistan's elections, the Election Commission said as it announced the final results of a closely contested vote.
The commission said a number of independent candidates allied with its jailed former leader, the PTI, won parliamentary seats in the February 8 vote, with the party winning an unexpected 97 out of 265 seats. announced that they had obtained the lead. However, with no party winning a majority and numerous candidates alleging voting fraud, Pakistan's political future is highly uncertain.
Five other independents who are not supported by Imran Khan also secured their seats. The PTI was followed by Khan's strong rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN), with 76 seats. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won 54 seats, giving it the potential to become a kingmaker.
However, several other small parties have also won seats, meaning complex negotiations to form a government are likely to continue.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a Karachi-based party, made a surprising comeback in the polls, winning 17 seats, while several other parties collectively won 20 seats.
The vote, marred by deadly violence, was held to elect 265 members of parliament. This means that a coalition government needs 134 seats to achieve a simple majority.
Following a court-issued suspension order, the Election Commission is withholding some results.
Protests amid allegations of falsification
Thousands of angry protesters poured into the streets of several cities during delays in vote counting in recent days, blamed on a voting day communications blackout that authorities called for security reasons. Several people died.
The announcement of the final results and suspension orders sparked new demonstrations across the country. But in the meantime, violence has been limited.
Pakistan's powerful military, which has ruled directly for nearly 30 years in Pakistan's 76-year history, has sought stability and peace. The party, which is close to the PMLN, is believed to be ready to intervene if the parties fail to agree to form a coalition government.
The PTI, among several other political parties, called for protests against the results, saying they were rigged.
Reporting from Islamabad, Al Jazeera's Kamal Haider said three of the suspension orders concern seats that the PTI claims were won by independent candidates by wide margins.
“If not resolved through legal means, these protests could spread across the country and perhaps even become a movement,” he said. “With these orders in place, it is likely that there will be a delay in the formation of the next government.”
One PTI supporter in Lahore told Al Jazeera that he would not sit quietly and allow the party's mandate to be stolen.
“The fact that the internet was shut down on election day shows how much the state was trying to falsify the results. We believe state institutions are fully involved in this, but… “This is deplorable. The people's vote should be respected,” he said, adding that he was planning to head to a protest in the afternoon.
At least six independent candidates backed by the PTI party appealed the results in court.
“Amazing”
Analyst Zaigham Khan told Al Jazeera that there are two main possible scenarios after the election results are announced.
“The most likely scenario is a coalition government that includes all parties except Mr. Khan's PTI,” he told Al Jazeera. This includes his two major political parties, the PPP and his PMLN, as well as the MQM, Jamaat-e-Islami, and others.
“The second scenario, which is less likely but technically possible, is for the PPP to join hands with the PTI to form a government,” the analyst said.
Farzana Sheikh, an expert on Pakistani politics and economics, told Al Jazeera's Inside Story that the election results were “astonishing”.
She said millions of people had resisted what had been widely reported as the outcome desired by military authorities, a clear victory for military favorite Nawaz Sharif.
“It also shows the deep frustration of a population that really wants change, and especially a new government that addresses the deep economic crisis currently facing this country.”