India, Pak Need to End Blame Game Over Kashmir, Says Imran Khan

Pakistan's PM-in-waiting Imran Khan thanked his supporters for a "historic election" and vowed to usher in a "new Pakistan", as he addressed the media on 26 July.

The cricketer-turned-politician's 'victory speech' came even as counting trends showed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) would have to stitch together a coalition to form the government, despite leaving its nearest opponent behind by almost double the number of seats.

Current Trends: PTI 118 | PML-N 61 | PPP 40 | OTHERS 50

Pakistan’s PM-in-waiting Imran Khan said that he was one of those politicians who wanted good relations with India. He said that India and Pakistan should end the blame game over Pakistan and resume talks with each other.

Khan accused India of violating human rights in Kashmir, adding that people of the state have suffered because of this.

“Pakistan is ready to improve its ties with India. If New Delhi moves one step forward, we will move two,” said Khan.

Pakistan’s PM-in-waiting Imran Khan, speaking to the media on Thursday, 26 July, said that he has finally got the chance to serve his nation.

Khan said that the reason he entered politics, was to make Pakistan the country that Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned.

He said that the country was witnessing the strengthening of democracy and that the election process was completed successfully, despite many terror attacks.

Imran Khan defeated Saad Rafique in NA-131 (Lahore-IX), unofficial results revealed, reported Express Tribune.

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf speaking to News18, welcomed the mandate by saying that Pakistan has elected a “capable” Imran Khan as the prime minister.

He added that Khan knew his strategic path, but must learn governance. He also rejected claims about election rigging, saying it was Pakistan’s habit.

The former president also added that the governance of Punjab was of “utmost importance.”

Elaborating on whether Imran Khan was anti-India, he said:

Sunita Parmar Menghwar, the first woman from the Hindu woman to contest the provincial assembly is losing to PPP and GDA leaders Faqeer Sher Bilalani and Arbab Togachi, reported Geo News.

PTI’s Sadaqat Abbasi today defeated the former prime minister of Pakistan and PML-N candidate Shahid Khaqan Abbasi by a margin of over 5000 votes.

Union Minister RK Singh, reacting to election results in Pakistan, said that Imran Khan was always a military candidate, adding that it wasn't India but the people of Pakistan who said the same.

"It was rigged. Observers have said it was rigged. Military was there on the polling booths. You ensured that Nawaz Sharif & his daughter land in jail & don't get to campaign. You ensured disturbances in Bilawal Bhutto's meetings," Singh told ANI.

PTI chairman Imran Khan is leading in all five constituencies he contested from— NA-35, NA-53, NA-95, NA-131 and NA-243, The Express Tribune reported. PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif, however, lost from one of the two seats he contested from.

Imran Khan's ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith today tweeted that 22 years after PTI chief Imran Khan took a plunge into politics, his "tenacity, belief and refusal to accept defeat" had finally paved the way for his triumph in Pakistan. In a tweet, Jemima, however, reminded Imran that he needed to remember the reason he had entered politics.

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday tweeted that she hoped election in Pakistan will lead to a stable government, adding that a democratic Pakistan is in the “best interests of its neighbourhood especially India”.

Imran Khan-led PTI on Thursday morning extended its lead to 119 seats, almost the double of arch enemy PML-N, which is leading in 61 seats. PTI still needs another 18 seats to establish a clear majority in the lower house which has 272 elected members.

As per unofficial trends on Geo news, PTI chief Imran Khan on Thursday won from the Islamabad NA-53 seat.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) today said it had observed that polling staff in some places appeared to be favouring a certain political party. The HRCP's preliminary report also said that women in some areas were asked about their choice of candidate. The report further said that women were not allowed to cast the ballot in many areas.

Despite Imran Khan’s PTI surging ahead in 114 seats, it’s still away from the required 137-seat mark to gain a clear majority in the national assembly that has 272 elected members. Imran may have to look for some coalition partners to form the government. The PTI had, last night, tweeted that it would wait for final results before commenting on the formation of the next government.

The PTI had, in May 2018, rejected PPP’s offer for a post-poll alliance after the latter expressed the willingness to join hands with Imran Khan’s party.

“Thank you Mr Zardari, we will not be requiring anyone’s support. The PTI will emerge as the single largest party in parliament after the elections and will form government on its own,” said PTI information secretary Fawad Chaudhry while commenting on Mr Zardari’s statement.

Even though the party, as of now, looks set to emerge as the single-largest party, it will require the support to form the government.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chairman Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, 25 July, said that his party rejected the general election results for what he called “manifest and massive irregularities”. Shehbaz alleged that votes were counted in the absence of poll agents.

The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday night rejected the allegations of any wrongdoing in the general election after several political parties raised objections over the process and said they feared rigging.

The ECP said the election results were being collected and the first official result will be announced in an hour.

Speaking to the media about the delay in election results, Babar Yaqoob, secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), said:

The Pakistan election results have been delayed due to a technical glitch, Geo TV reported, citing sources.

Along with Shehbaz Sharif, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also raised objections about the counting process, saying it was "inexcusable and outrageous".

Addressing a press conference while the counting was going on, PML-N leader and PM hopeful Shehbaz Sharif said he and his party "reject" the Pakistan General Election results, as he asserted his objections to the counting process.

He was quoted by Dawn as saying:

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb raised objections over the counting process and alleged that her party's agents were being forced out from the polling stations in several constituencies, reported PTI.

Ahead of the results, Imran Khan's party PTI referred to him as the Prime Minister in a tweet, saying:

According to Times Now, PML-N has alleged rigging in the voting, and called for an emergency press briefing.

Former deputy speaker and PML-N candidate Murtaza Abbasi is leading with 31,320 votes in NA-15 Abbottabad. PTI’s Ali Asghar is second with 25,460, reported Samaa TV citing unofficial results.

PTI chairman Imran Khan has won Karachi East, reported Samaa TV. The party is currently leading in 94 seats.

Quoting unofficial results, The Express Tribune reported PTI leading across 54 Punjab seats, PML-N in 43 seats.

PTI has begun celebrations, after early trends put the party at a lead.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N candidate and former prime minister of Pakistan trails with 4,677 votes in NA-57. PTI’s Sadaqat Abbasi is leading with 6,394 votes, reported Samaa TV, quoting unofficial results.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is leading with 3,461 votes in NA-213 Nawabshah. GDA’s Sheer Muhammad Rind is second with 558 votes, reports Samaa TV, citing unofficial results.

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif is trailing in Rajanpur, reported Samaa TV. According to the channel, Sardar Muhammad Laghari of the PTI is leading with 928 votes while Sharif is trailing with 524 votes.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto is leading in NA-246 Lyari with 1,754 votes, reported Samaa TV, citing unofficial results. Bhutto is also reportedly leading in Larkana, while trailing in Malakand.

According to The Express Tribune, Imran Khan’s PTI is trailing across four Sindh PA (provincial assembly) seats, while Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP is leading in six PA seats across the region.

PTI chief Imran Khan's vote from a parliamentary seat in Islamabad, from where he is also contesting the general elections, may be cancelled by the election commission for allegedly violating the code of conduct, according to media reports.

President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shahbaz Sharif and former foreign minister Khawaja Asif may also face action after the poll panel took serious note of them interaction with the media after casting their votes.

Polling for the general elections has concluded in Pakistan, reported Dawn. Pakistan TV channels have been asked by the ECP to refrain from broadcasting election trends till 7 pm. (7:30 pm IST)

According to Dawn, the Election Commission has turned down requests for extension in polling time.

The death toll from the Quetta blast has increased from 25 persons to 31, reported local news daily Dawn.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan cast his vote in Pakistan capital Islamabad.

Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed cast his vote on Wednesday in Pakistan’s Lahore city. The LeT chief said that everyone should exercise their right to vote and contribute towards making Pakistan a better and secure country.

Within hours of a horrific attack, which killed over two dozen people and injured several others in Balochistan’s capital Quetta, the Islamic State claimed the responsibility, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday.

PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif, PTI chairman Imran Khan, and Tahir-ul-Qadri have condemned the horrific attack, which killed at least 25 people and injured over two dozen people in Balochistan capital Quetta.

Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed on Wednesday cast his ballot at a polling booth in Pakistan’s Lahore city.

Several people sustained injuries in an explosion near eastern bypass in the restive Balochistan capital, Quetta, on Wednesday, 25 July. The scale of damage and its impact on polling is yet to be ascertained, Dawn reported.

Dawn news reported it was receiving information that transgender voters were not permitted to vote at male polling booths in Lahore.

A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf party worker was killed when clashes broke out between the workers of Imran Khan-led party and Awami National Party workers in PK-57 constituency of Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn reported on Wednesday morning.

Bakhtawar and Aseefa, daughters of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, cast their vote in the Sindh province’s Nawabshah constituency on Wednesday morning. Benazir’s son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, is trying to revive the fortunes of the country’s only left-leaning party.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has directed TV channels in Pakistan have been directed not to carry any election-related programmes forthwith, Dawn reported on Wednesday.

PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by party workers and supporters, reached a polling booth in Model Town to cast his vote on Wednesday. Dawn reported that Shehbaz urged voters to come out and vote.

According to Pakistan English daily Dawn, 106 million voters are expected to exercise their franchise today. Voters have started queuing up outside voting booths across the country.