New Delhi:
Nearly 24 hours have passed since the incident Pakistan polls end, with only a quarter of the votes counted, the winner remains unclear. Results are expected to be announced this morning, with the unprecedented delay raising concerns about the integrity of the election.
However, counting the votes will take time due to “internet issues,” according to the Election Commission of Pakistan. Zafar Iqbal, special secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), said polling officials have been asked to announce the results at the earliest but they are facing some internet issues.
Claims by the polling body that it would ensure timely results without reliance on the internet have been undermined by a lack of connectivity that has posed a series of unexpected but familiar challenges, mainly for polling officers at some polling stations. Can’t stand still. They found themselves unable to transmit the final results from their respective sites using the much-touted homegrown system, Dawn reported.
On polling day, authorities suspended mobile phone services nationwide, causing delays that killed at least 16 people and injured at least 54 others.In a statement on Friday morning, the Interior Ministry also said ‘Lack of communication’ leading to delays As a result of preventive safety measures.
Imran KhanThere was a crackdown on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which was banned from contesting elections and was banned from holding rallies and removed from the ballot paper, forcing its candidates to run as independents.
Official results show Independents backed by PTI Won about 46 seats, ahead of Nawaz SharifThe Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has 38 seats and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has 31 seats. A party needs to win 134 seats to form a government independently.
Analysts stress the importance of timely announcement of results to reduce policy and political uncertainty, especially as Pakistan grapples with economic challenges and an escalation of armed violence in a politically divided environment.
The delay in results, which is rare in Pakistani elections, had some impact on financial markets, with Karachi’s stock index and Pakistan’s sovereign bonds falling amid the uncertainty.
The delay has also raised concerns among citizens, with some expressing doubts about the transparency of the electoral process.
Shop owner Nisar Ahmed, 45, said: “The delaying tactics fully illustrate that the results are manipulated and there is no other reason behind the delay.”
Sadaf Farooqi, a teacher for 40 years, added, “There is no reason other than that the results were tampered with.”
Pakistan is struggling to recover from an economic crisis while dealing with rising armed violence in a deeply polarized political environment. The next leader will need to deal with a heavy debt burden and negotiate a new bailout package with the International Monetary Fund. The International Monetary Fund’s nine-month bailout for the country, Pakistan’s 23rd since independence in 1947, is due to expire next month.
