Pakistan poll results 2024: As counting continues, Imran Khan's 'Independents' race ahead

Almost 24 hours have gone by, but a clear result of Pakistan elections 2024 is yet to be declared. The unusual delay in counting of votes are making people of the country anxious. Results of over 100 seats have been announced and supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan had an edge, as per local media. Independents, most who owe allegiance to Imran Khan, had won on 47 of 106 seats for which the results have been announced. In Pakistan polls 2024, voting was held for 266 National Assembly seats out of 336, but polling was postponed on at least one seat after a candidate was killed in a gun attack in Bajaur. The remaining 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for minorities and are allotted to the winning parties based on proportional representation. Around 1 pm (local time) on Friday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced 70 official results, with independents getting 24. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto, won on 24, while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) bagged 18 seats. The remaining seats were won by small parties. Imran Khan is in jail and his party - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)- was barred from contesting the election, so his supporters contested as independents. No clear winner Analysts fear that there may be no clear winner, adding to the woes of the economic-crisis hit nation which is already grappling with rising terrorist activities in a deeply polarised political environment. “A timely announcement of the results, leading to a smooth formation of a new government will reduce policy and political uncertainty,” Reuters quoted Moody’s Investors Service as saying. “This is crucial for the country that is facing very challenging macroeconomic conditions.” it added Usual delay in Pakistan poll results The delay in the announcement of results was unusual for elections in Pakistan. The government ascribed the delay to a suspension of mobile phone services. An “internet issue” was the reason behind the delay, Zafar Iqbal, special secretary at the ECP, said without elaborating. The government had suspended mobile and internet services ahead of the election on 8 February as a security measure, and they were being partially restored. Meanwhile, Karachi’s stock index and Pakistan’s sovereign bonds fell because of the uncertainty. With inputs from agencies