Imran Khan's party wins most seats in Pakistan but cannot form government: Nationwide protests grow
The PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), which finished first in the election but failed to reach the number of seats required to form a government, has launched nationwide protests. The Pakistan Army has called for unity and calm.
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Elections in Pakistan have concluded.
Independent candidates supported by the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), finished first by winning 93 seats in the assembly, surpassing the candidates of the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) and the PPP (Pakistan People's Party).
However, failing to secure an absolute majority, the PTI is unable to form a government due to other parties uniting against Imran Khan. Imran Khan's party has launched nationwide protests, alleging that the elections were rigged.
Before the election, the PTI had called on its supporters not to leave the polling stations until the vote count was finished, claiming that there could be fraud in the election.
Nawaz Sharif's party, the PML-N, which was in power during the previous term, won 74 seats in the elections, while the PPP won 56 seats. The number of members of parliament required to secure a majority in the Pakistani assembly is 134.
PROTESTS CONTINUE IN THE COUNTRY'S 4 PROVINCES
As the PML-N and the PPP began coalition talks, protests by Imran Khan's supporters began to increase. Protests are being held in Pakistan's 4 largest provinces against Nawaz Sharif, who is expected to form a coalition government by reaching agreements with other parties that managed to win seats in the country.
Despite the police announcing that they would intervene in the protests held in the capital, the demonstrators did not take a step back. According to Khan's supporters, the election was rigged on a 'very large scale'.
While protests continue in the country, it remains uncertain whether Sharif will be able to form a government.