The Election Commission of Pakistan on Sunday declared the final results of Thursday’s general elections.
Independent candidates supported by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party made the biggest gains by winning 101 seats.
However, even after getting the lead, the path to forming the government has not been decided for Imran Khan’s party. The Election Commission of Pakistan has declared the results of 264 out of 265 contested seats.
No party got majority
In view of no party getting majority in Pakistan’s elections, political parties on Sunday intensified their efforts to form a coalition government.
Pakistan’s mandate It has become clear that the cash-strapped country will have to face a hung parliament after the general elections.
The general elections were held on Thursday, but the unusual delay in announcing the results led to a sour atmosphere as several parties complained of irregularities and some staged protests.
At the same time, Pakistan Army also proposed to run a coalition government with former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif.
To form the government, any party will have to win 133 out of 265 seats in the National Assembly. The election on one seat was postponed after the death of a candidate.
Overall, 169 seats out of 336 are required to achieve a simple majority, including seats reserved for women and minorities.
Politics of manipulation started in Pakistan
In view of no single party getting a clear majority in the general elections of Pakistan, discussions and manipulative efforts have started for the formation of a coalition government.
Amid the possibility of a hung Parliament, efforts to form a coalition government gained momentum with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday appealing to rival political parties to join hands to take Pakistan out of its current difficulties. Sharif is believed to be backed by a powerful army.
Nawaz has already given victory speech
Three-time former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has already indicated in his so-called victory speech that he is ready to join hands with independents to take the country out of the crisis.
Even if Sharif’s PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led PPP win the remaining seats, they will still need the support of other winning parties or independent candidates to form the government. Both the parties are trying to form a coalition government.
Najab and Bilawal meeting
PPP chief Bilawal and his father Asif Ali Zardari held separate meetings with Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shehbaz Sharif. “Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif held a meeting in Jati Umrah, in which both discussed forming a coalition government in Islamabad,” a PMLN leader said on Saturday.
He said both PML-N and PPP are in a comfortable position to form the government with the help of smaller parties, while PTI will be forced to sit in the opposition.