Pakistan Ex-PM Imran Khan’s Party Aims to Form Government, Says Reuters

By Ariba Shahid and Charlotte Greenfield

ISLAMABAD – Candidates supported by the party of imprisoned Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan are looking to establish a government, according to a senior aide to the former prime minister. The aide urged supporters to engage in peaceful protests if the final election results are delayed.

The general election took place on Thursday amid ongoing economic challenges and rising militant violence in a politically divided nation of 241 million.

Both Khan and his main opponent, three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, claimed victory on Friday, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the formation of the next government as urgent policy measures are necessary to tackle various issues.

Gohar Khan, the chairman of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) party and Khan’s legal representative, called on all Pakistani institutions to honor his party’s mandate. During a press conference, he announced that if complete election results were not disclosed by Saturday evening, PTI would organize peaceful protests on Sunday outside government offices responsible for the election results nationwide.

In Peshawar, hundreds of Khan’s supporters rallied, led by aides who asserted that they had been declared losers despite their electoral wins. Taimur Khan Jhagra, a former provincial minister, expressed disbelief at the situation.

The protesters voiced their opposition to what they termed electoral fraud.

Sharif declared on Friday that his party had become the largest single bloc and would seek to collaborate with other groups to form a coalition government. As of Saturday evening, results for 10 of the 265 contested seats were still pending, giving rise to frustration over the delay.

The latest results indicated that independent candidates secured 100 seats, while Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) obtained 72. Notably, over 90 of the independent victors had the backing of Khan’s PTI, significantly outpacing Sharif’s party. Khan’s supporters contested as independents due to a ban preventing them from using PTI’s electoral symbol, enforced as a result of non-compliance with electoral regulations.

Notwithstanding the ban and Khan’s imprisonment, millions of his followers turned out to vote, although he cannot participate in government as long as he remains incarcerated. Pakistan’s electoral laws stipulate that independents are not eligible for reserved seats meant for parties, potentially awarding Sharif’s party up to 20 additional seats.

Khan’s media adviser, Zulfi Bukhari, indicated that the PTI would soon announce a party banner for independents to rally under, as they cannot independently form a government. He emphasized the resilience of the independents who have endured significant hardships in recent months.

Moving forward, anyone aiming to form the next government will require support from other parties, with no one reaching the necessary threshold for a simple majority in parliament. The Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, remains a key player, holding at least 53 seats, alongside smaller parties and independents.

This scenario sets the stage for extensive political negotiations leading up to a parliamentary vote for the new prime minister and government. Bhutto Zardari asserted that no government could be formed without his party’s involvement.

Pakistan’s army chief commended the “successful conduct” of the election, emphasizing the need for “stable hands” to move past the current political turmoil. The military, a powerful player in Pakistan’s governance, has previously been accused by Khan of orchestrating a crackdown against him and his party—a claim the military denies.

Khan, from prison, released an audio-visual message via artificial intelligence, rejecting Sharif’s victory claim and calling on supporters to celebrate what he framed as a victory despite alleged election tampering aimed at diminishing PTI-backed candidates’ success.

Concern over the electoral process was voiced by international observers, including the United States, Britain, and the European Union, who urged investigations into reported irregularities. British officials highlighted significant concerns regarding the elections’ inclusivity and fairness.

In response, Pakistan’s foreign office refuted these claims, asserting that the election process was carried out successfully.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, leading the Commonwealth observer team, expressed hope for a resolution that genuinely reflects the will of the people, encouraging any grievances to be pursued in accordance with Pakistani law.