Pakistan faces a period of deal-making after election results showed no clear majority.
As final results still trickle in on Sunday, independent candidates loyal to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan defied expectations to take the lead.
Both Khan and his main rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declare victory in the election.
The election was marred by violence by armed groups and a widely criticised suspension of mobile phone services that prompted accusations of “political engineering”.
Independent candidates are well ahead with 100 seats, yesterday’s latest tally posted on the election commission’s website, with PMLN in second place with 73 seats.
Most of the independent candidates are backed by Imran Khan’s PTI.
Results were still not in as of yesterday morning for nine of the 265 seats contested in the election.
PTI interim chief Gohar Ali Khan says the party will try to form a government as it is “by far the largest political party in the National Assembly”.
The PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said there cannot be a formation of a federal government, as well as in Punjab and Balochistan provinces, without his party.
NetBlocks has reported a nationwide disruption of social media platform X. The PTI has called the interruption “absolutely shameful”.
