New Delhi:

An independent candidate linked to jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan unexpectedly outperformed traditional political heavyweights including Nawaz Sharif in early trends. The slow release of official results has raised concerns about potential electoral manipulation, further confusing an already tense political environment.

Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faces being excluded from the elections as a bloc, prompting a strategic shift in favor of independent candidates. Although the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced only a handful of results more than 13 hours after polling stations were closed, PTI remained optimistic about the performance of its backed candidates.

PTI chief organizer Omar Ayub Khan claimed in a video statement that independent candidates backed by the party have the potential to form the next federal government with a two-thirds majority. The European Communist Party blamed “internet problems” for the delay in the election results, which sparked speculation and concerns about electoral irregularities.

What’s next for Imran Khan

Imran Khan’s recent jailing further complicates the PTI’s political landscape. Imran Khan faces political isolation until 2034 due to a ten-year ban from holding public office. His absence has left the PTI in disarray, with key aides either in jail or on the run, weakening the party’s structure.

The court ruling stripped the PTI of its traditional electoral symbol – the cricket bat – while candidates running as independents added an additional layer of complexity. The PTI is now led by a little-known lawyer, Gohar Ali Khan.

Possible scenarios if PTI-backed candidate wins majority

• If an independent candidate backed by Imran Khan’s party wins, they can form a new government under a common banner.
• With the support of the former cricket star’s party, independent candidates could even approach other parties to form a coalition government.
• The new government can petition the courts to quash Imran Khan’s three prison sentences.
• The new government could approach Pakistan’s electoral body to overturn its decision to ban Imran Khan from holding public office or contesting elections.

What’s next for Pakistan

Electoral fraud has plagued the electoral process, casting a shadow over a lackluster campaign. The country’s mobile phone network was shut down on polling day for alleged security reasons, fueling fears that the electoral process was rigged. Citing reports from party operatives, PTI information secretary Roof Hassan suspected the results had been tampered with.

The unexpected performance of independent candidates, many of whom are backed by the PTI, has raised questions about the formation of the next government. With the PTI barred from contesting elections as a united front, prospects for a coalition government have become slim.

Political analysts had expected the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to win the most seats, given the support of the military-led establishment. However, local TV channels showed the Muslim League performing poorly, with its founder Nawaz Sharif trailing in one constituency while his brother Shehbaz (who was appointed prime minister after Khan was ousted in April 2022) Behind in another constituency.

After the election, the support of the winning independent candidate becomes crucial for any party aiming to secure the numbers needed to form a government.