New Delhi: Asserting its claim to govern both at the Centre and in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party called upon the Election Commission on Saturday to announce complete poll results by midnight or brace for protests in areas where outcomes were still pending, news agency PTI reported.
In an unexpected turn of events, independent candidates backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI clinched the majority of 101 seats in the national assembly during Thursday's election. However, two days after the elections were conducted, the results remained incomplete, raising the spectre of a hung Parliament or a coalition government.
During a press briefing on Saturday, PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan pressed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to swiftly release the full results or face peaceful demonstrations from PTI supporters in regions where the outcome was yet to be finalised. He also criticised the ECP for its perceived failure to fulfil its constitutional duty of promptly declaring the poll results.
Asserting that his party had secured 170 seats, including those where the PTI was previously declared the winner, Gohar contended that the PTI would assume power at the central level as well as in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Gohar further alleged discrepancies in the handling of Form 45 at polling stations, asserting that PTI-backed candidates were erroneously deemed unsuccessful by returning officers despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Appealing to “both institutions and the judiciary” to honour the people's mandate, which he claimed was in favour of PTI's “anti-slavery” stance, Gohar emphasised the critical importance of accepting the electoral verdict for the stability of the economy and the nation at large.
“The economy and county cannot afford the rejection of this mandate,” PTI quoted Khan as saying.
Notably, Gohar Ali Khan appointed as the chairman of PTI following Imran Khan's conviction, has navigated the party through challenging times, with its founder facing legal troubles and key leaders departing.