In its first reaction since Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the single largest party in the recent general elections, India, on 28 July, said it desires a prosperous and progressive Pakistan, and hoped that the new government in Islamabad will work constructively to build a safe, stable and secure South Asia free of terror and violence.
With 116 National Assembly seats Pakistan's PM-in-waiting Imran Khan had 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.
Seats Won: PTI 116 | PML-N 64 | PPP 43
- According to Election Commission of Pakistan, the results have been delayed due to a technical glitch
- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif had “rejected” the result, alleging blatant rigging of the elections
- ECP secretary Babar Yaqoob said his analysis showed that voters’ turnout was around 55 percent but it was an “initial assessment and could change”
- At stake: A total of 849 directly elected seats, including 272 in the National Assembly (NA) and 577 seats in provincial Assemblies (PA) – Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
India Reacts to Imran Khan's Victory
India, on 28 July, said it desires a prosperous and progressive Pakistan, and hoped that the new government in Islamabad will work constructively to build a safe, stable and secure South Asia free of terror and violence, in its first reaction on elections in that country.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said India welcomed that the people of Pakistan have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections.
"India desires a prosperous and progressive Pakistan at peace with its neighbours," he said.
"We hope that the new government of Pakistan will work constructively to build a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asia free of terror and violence," Kumar said.
Imran Khan's PTI Emerges Largest Party With 116 Seats
Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Saturday, 28 July emerged as the single largest party in the general elections, winning 116 National Assembly seats out of the contested 270 parliamentary constituencies, according to the election commission's final results.
Jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 64 and former president Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 43 seats are placed at number two and three respectively, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said.
(Source: PTI)
Freedom Expression Curbed During Gen Election in Pak: US
Some steps, including curbs on freedom of expression and association, taken by authorities in Pakistan ahead of its July 25 general elections were at odds with their stated goal of a free, fair and transparent polls, the Trump Administration said.
“These included constraints placed on freedoms of expression and association during the campaign period that were at odds with Pakistani authorities’ stated goal of a fully fair and transparent election.”Heather Nauert, US State Department Spokesperson
This was the first official US statement on Pakistan General Election.
Imran Khan Inches Closer to Form Govt
Imran Khan is inching closer to form a government in Pakistan with the support of allies and independents even as a multi-party meeting called to devise a joint strategy over alleged vote rigging today rejected the results of the polls and demanded "transparent" re-election.
So far Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has bagged 118 of the 270 National Assembly seats on which elections were held and was leading in another two constituencies where counting was still on.