9 February 2024Updated 59 minutes agoImage source, Imran Khan/XImage caption, Imran Khan shared an AI-made victory speech on XThe imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has proclaimed victory in Thursday’s general election and urged his supporters to celebrate. Independent candidates associated with him have secured the majority of seats declared so far. However, another ex-PM, Nawaz Sharif, asserts that his party has emerged as the largest and is encouraging others to join him in forming a coalition. At this point, no group or party seems likely to secure a clear majority. The final results are still pending.In a defiant video message posted on X which was created using AI, Mr. Khan declared that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had secured a “resounding victory” despite what he has referred to as a crackdown on his party. Currently serving time in prison after being convicted in what he claims are politically motivated cases, the unexpected success of the PTI-affiliated candidates has taken many experts by surprise. Most analysts had anticipated Mr. Sharif – believed to have the backing of the country’s influential military – to be the clear frontrunner.However, because the PTI has been barred from contesting the election, Mr. Sharif’s PML-N is technically the largest official political group. As such, the political maneuvering to form a government will now intensify, meaning that it could still be some time before anyone is able to declare an outright victory.In a speech on Friday, Mr. Sharif acknowledged that he lacked the necessary numbers to form a government independently. However, as he addressed supporters outside his party’s headquarters in Lahore, he called on other candidates to join him in a coalition and asserted that he could lead the country out of its challenging times.Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight program on Friday, Mr. Khan’s former special assistant Zulifkar Bukhari stated: “Knowing Imran Khan and understanding the principles of our political party PTI, I believe we will not form a government coalition with any of the major parties.” He further added, “However, we will form a coalition… to enter parliament – not as an independent entity, but under a single banner, one party.”Responding to queries about whether Mr. Khan might potentially be released, Mr. Bukhari remarked: “I am extremely confident that the moment we go to the high court and the supreme court, he will be released, and many – if not all – charges will be dismissed based on legal and procedural grounds.”The third largest party appears to be the Pakistan People’s Party led by Bilawal Bhutto, the son of the late PM Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007.Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, In Lahore, cheers and fireworks were seen among supporters of Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) partyAs the results gradually emerged, the UK and US expressed concerns about restrictions on electoral liberties during the voting process. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged authorities in Pakistan to “uphold fundamental human rights, including free access to information and the rule of law.” He also expressed “regret that not all parties were officially permitted to contest the elections.”In a statement, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller criticized what he characterized as “undue limitations on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly” during Pakistan’s electoral process. He also cited “attacks on media personnel” and “restrictions on access to the internet and telecommunication services” as causes for concern regarding “allegations of interference” in the process.Many analysts have opined that this is one of Pakistan’s least credible elections. Voters in Lahore informed the BBC that the internet blackout on polling day prevented them from booking taxis to go and vote, while others stated that they were unable to coordinate with their family members on when to head to polling stations.A spokesperson for the interior ministry defended the blackouts, citing security reasons. In Pakistan, the support of the military is considered crucial for political success, and analysts believe that Mr. Sharif and his party currently enjoy their backing, despite past differences.Maya Tudor, associate professor at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, described the PTI’s lead as “stunning” given the country’s historical context. “A victory would be remarkable – in all previous elections in Pakistan’s recent history, the military’s preferred candidate has emerged victorious,” explained Dr. Tudor.As many as 128 million people were registered to cast their votes, with nearly half of them being under 35 years of age. Over 5,000 candidates – out of which only 313 were women – contested 266 directly-elected seats in the 336-member National Assembly.Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, Maleeha Lodhi, emphasized that Pakistan “desperately” needs political stability to address what she described as “the worst economic crisis in its history.” Yet, on a positive note, Ms. Lodhi pointed out that Pakistan’s voter turnout demonstrates a “belief in the democratic process”.
