May 9, 2024
Pakistan stunned as Imran Khan’s PTI over performs in election
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The mystery surrounding the suspicious delay in the issuance of general election results continued to take the center stage on Friday after the Election Commission of Pakistan failed to complete the issuance of poll results of several constituencies even a day after the elections.
According to Business Recorder, the polls were held in an air of uncertainty and fear drawn by security threats, allegations of massive poll-rigging, apparent denial of level playing field coupled with alleged state-sponsored coercion against the members of a political party, and undeclared curbs on the media.
Conspicuously, the candidates supported by PTI were leading the poll charts with heavy margins in different constituencies across the country when the Election Management System (EMS) suddenly broke down.
The alleged tampering in the election results also raised serious questions on the general elections credibility.
The PTI Information Secretary, Raoof Hasan, is perhaps right when he says that the Election Commission’s system collapsed and then the phase of tampering started and resumed only after
The PTI-backed candidates including Yasmeen Rashid, Raja Basharat, Ayaz Ameer, Mehr Bano Qureshi, Tahir Sadiq, Shoaib Shaheen, Qasira Elahi, Ali Bukhari, among others, were leading against their respective candidates from the related National Assembly seats when the results came to a halt. Several hours later, these candidates lost the polls in the ECP’s results.
Former PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz, who contested the general elections from NA- 48 Islamabad as an independent candidate, announced on X to accept his defeat. He alleged that PTI-backed Ali Bukhari was the winner of NA-48 seat but poll results were rigged to “elevate a person who was not even in the electoral race.” Likewise, he said, PTI-backed Shoaib Shaheen won the NA-47 Islamabad seat with a heavy margin before the results were stopped.
PTI-backed independents bag 97 seats
As the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) continued announcing the election results till late Friday night, the PTI-backed candidates, had won 97 seats with the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and PPP securing 72 and 53 seats respectively.
Others parties had won 25 seats till filling of the report — PMLQ 3, Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party 1, MQMP 15, JUI-F 3, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party 2, Masjils-e-Wahdatul-Muslimen (MWM) 1, Balochistan National Party 2, Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan 1, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) 1, PML-Zia 1.
The independent candidates on PTI tickets had defeated senior politicians including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Sirajul Haq, Amir Muqam, Aimal Wali Khan and three former chief ministers Pervez Khattak, Mahmood Khan and Ameer Haider Hoti.
Some of the PTI candidates elected to the National Assembly include PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who defeated ANP’s Abdur Rauf Khan in the only National Assembly seat in Buner.
Imran Khan praises PTI’s ‘landslide victory’ in polls
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an AI-generated victory speech of the incarcerated PTI founder emphasizing that the nation’s “unprecedented fight back” has resulted in a landslide victory for his party in the 2024 general elections.
“You have set the foundation for your haqeeqi azaadi by voting yesterday,” Imran Khan said adding: “I congratulate you all for winning the 2024 elections.”
“I had faith that you all will go out and vote,” Imran said. “Your massive turn out has shocked everyone.”
Imran Khan, who was arrested in August after a court convicted him of corruption, is still in jail and buried under multiple lawsuits. He did not run in this election.
Khan is currently serving multiple prison terms at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where his trials were held in several controversial cases. He is embroiled in more than 150 legal cases, including inciting people to violence after his arrest in May 2023.
EU, US call for investigation of election fraud claims in Pakistan
The United States on Friday expressed concern about allegations of rigging and called for an investigation into claims of election fraud in Pakistan.
"We are concerned about allegations of interference in the electoral process," the US State Department said in a statement, urging authorities in Pakistan to investigate the claims of interference and fraud.
It said the United States is prepared to work with the next Pakistani government, regardless of political party, to advance our shared interests.
Earlier, the European Union (EU) also urged Pakistani authorities to investigate all reports of election irregularities and to implement recommendations of the upcoming EU Election Expert Mission report.
"We regret the lack of a level playing field due to the inability of some political actors to contest the elections, restrictions to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression both online and offline, restrictions of access to the internet, as well as allegations of severe interference in the electoral process, including arrests of political activists," the statement said.
On the other hand, British Foreign Minister David Cameron acknowledged “serious concerns” raised about fairness and inclusivity of the elections and urged authorities in Pakistan to ensure free access to information and legal enforcement.
“We express regret that certain political leaders were barred from participating in the elections and that identifiable party symbols could not be used, and that not all parties were officially allowed to run for office,” David Cameron said.
US politicians also demand probe into poll fraud allegations
Several US politicians have demanded an investigation into allegations of rigging and fraud in the Pakistan election.
“I call on the State Department to refrain from recognizing the results until credible, independent investigations have been conducted into the numerous allegations of misconduct,” US Congress member Ilhan Omar tweeted.
Representative Susan Wild said, “Now is the time for the international community to stand” with the people of Pakistan.
Congressman Ro Khanna said he was “deeply concerned by the growing evidence that the military is interfering and rigging the result to overturn the will of the Pakistani people”.
Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America (www.journalofamerica.net) Email: asghazali2011 (@) gmail.com
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The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
