“Valid” concerns about election conduct are being voiced by a PMLN member

Mohammed Zubair, a member of the Pakistan Muslim League, claims that concerns expressed regarding the election’s handling were “serious and valid.” “I don’t think anyone can claim that it was absolutely transparent,” he said to Al Jazeera. According to Zubair, Imran Khan’s party was at a disadvantage in the polls because the PTI lacked its famous cricket bat, an electoral symbol, in contrast to other political organizations that were granted one.

“In Pakistan, where a sizeable portion of the populace lacks even the basic literacy skills, it is crucial to have an electoral symbol.”

Election monitor: “Results delays overshadowed otherwise orderly election.”

The Election Commission of Pakistan received an overall positive rating from the Free and Fair Election Network for the way it conducted polls, but delays in announcing the results “overshadowed an otherwise orderly election,” raising concerns about the validity of the results. According to its preliminary report, “years of parliamentary efforts to reform the election results management process were undermined by the caretaker government’s suspension of cellular and internet services on election day, regardless of the security reasons.”

“Total cheating,” a PMLN backer claims.

Supporter of Nawaz Sharif Shakib Ahmed says he is dissatisfied with the way elections are being conducted in the nation. Everyone is aware of what is happening. Nothing is kept a secret. The resident of Lahore told Al Jazeera, “Everything that is happening now is total cheating.” He continued, saying that he supported Sharif because businesses prospered under his rule. Armed groups used violence during Thursday’s elections, and the much-maligned mobile phone service outage also sparked claims of “political engineering.” There were questions about the Friday election results delay as well.

PTI is certain it will join the upcoming administration.

Gohar Ali Khan, the chairman of the PTI, is quite optimistic that his party will hold a majority in Punjab, the province where they are claiming seats in the national parliament. Additionally, they won every poll in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Nevertheless, the majority of their declared winners were subsequently declared the losers of the election. Of course, that will go to court, and the PTI is sure that the courts will rule in their favor because there is proof of widespread election tampering, including videos from Karachi showing candidates stamping their ballots. Although the PTI claims to have a two-thirds majority, we will have to wait and see what transpires over the next 24 to 48 hours. Their alternative is to become members of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, a much smaller Shia party that is closely associated with Imran Khan.

How does this election involve the army?

Pakistan’s army, according to Ayesha Siddiqa, senior fellow at King’s College London, has been hoping for the formation of a weak coalition led by the PMLN. “These are the outcomes we achieved, in a sense,” Siddiqa said to Al Jazeera. However, I would also contend that these are not the outcomes they were hoping for. Despite their best efforts to suppress voter turnout, a passionate group of people showed up to cast ballots. Siddiqa stated that although it was still unclear who would lead the coalition government—Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif, or Nawaz Sharif—the army was likely to support a government that brought together the PMLN and the PPP.

For over thirty years since Pakistan gained its independence, the country has been ruled directly by the country’s formidable military establishment. The PMLN leads its competitors in Punjab, the most populous province in the nation, “so they will safely make the government there,” the analyst continued. According to PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his party is necessary for the formation of a federal government and for the provinces of Punjab and Balochistan. He told Geo News, “We don’t know the whole count nor have independents announced their decisions.” The former foreign minister continued, “No government will be able to solve the public’s problems without addressing the political toxicity.” “I was nominated as the PM candidate by the PPP Central Executive Committee, but if that needs to be changed, we will need to call another meeting and decide how to proceed.”