Pakistan Elections Result HIGHLIGHTS: PML-N, PPP hold meeting to discuss govt formation, PTI rules out talks

Protests escalated against alleged election rigging in Pakistan, and the supporters of the PTI were seen wearing masks resembling Imran Khan during a protest in Islamabad.

The losing candidates who challenged the provisional results in their constituencies have flooded the Pakistan courts.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf-backed candidate, Waseem Qadir, who won from Lahore's NA-121 constituency, joined Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N).

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan Convener, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that discussions during a meeting with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders did not involve any talks regarding the formation of the next government, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Siddiqui said the polls have created a challenging situation in Pakistan and stressed that all parties must play their part in moving the country out of crisis.

PTI’s Meher Bano Qureshi has said that independents won’t and can’t shift their loyalties to any other party, reported Dawn. Speaking on DawnNews show “Doosra Rukh”, she highlighted that PTI candidates, who are being referred to as independents, received all the votes due to Imran Khan.

Political parties in Pakistan on Sunday intensified their efforts for the formation of a coalition government after it became clear that the cash-strapped country faced a hung Parliament after general elections.
The general elections were held on Thursday, but the unusual delay in the announcement of results vitiated the atmosphere as several parties cried foul and some resorted to protests.

MQM-Pakistan Convener Khalid Maqbool has said that discussions during a meeting with the PML-N delegation did not involve any talks about forming the next government, Dawn reported. Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Siddiqui said the elections have created a challenging situation and all parties must play their role in steering the country out of crisis. “The stability of democracy is more important than anything else,” he said. He insisted no discussion has yet taken place regarding the formation of the government.

Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday said the voters, particularly women and youth, have "not only spoken but shouted out loud their will" in the general elections and urged all political parties and institutions to "respect and recognise" the huge mandate of the citizens. Alvi was a senior member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party before former prime minister Imran Khan made him the country's President in 2018. "I must congratulate the people of Pakistan, especially the women for coming out in huge numbers, withstanding all pressures and standing up for democracy. The youth deserve a special mention, and I praise them for having decided to take charge of the country by participating peacefully in the voting process," Alvi wrote on X, three days after the general election ended, resulting in a hung Parliament.

As the election commission released election results late by Sunday, people across the country staged protest. Protestors alleged that the commission was responsible for rigging during the February 8 elections.

 Pakistan's national election vote count concluded on Sunday with independents, mostly backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, winning 101 of the 264 seats, the election commission's website showed. The independents were followed by the party of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, which won 75 seats - becoming the largest single party in parliament as Khan's independents ran as individuals. The final tally was released over 60 hours after voting concluded in Thursday's national elections, a delay that has raised questions about the process.

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• Pakistan ex-pm Nawaz Sharif won 75 of 264 seats 
• Independents mostly backed by Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan won 101 of 264 seats 

As PTI announced a countrywide protest, Islamabad police on Sunday announced to take action against illegal assembly as it imposed Section 144.

Amid allegation of poll rigging, US lawmaker has demanded a probe into 'allegations of corruption or fraud' in polls.

A meeting between the MQM-Pakistan delegation led by party chief Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and PML-N leaders kicked off at Sahrif’s Jati Umra residence near Lahore, Geo news reported.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict on issuance of the final notification regarding elections in the NA-48 constituency, Geo News reported.
Hearing a plea of the PTI-affiliated independent candidate, Ali Bukhari, the ECP has issued a notice to the winning candidate Raja Khurram Nawaz who contested the polls as an independent candidate.
The complainant alleged that the results were changed in favour of the rival candidate.

The Election Commission is still to announce the full results of the polls. Independents backed by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the lion's share of 102 seats in the National Assembly (NA) in the election.
The group was followed by former prime minister Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 74 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 54, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) with 17 and 12 other seats going to smaller parties, as the result of 259 seats out of 265 was announced by the election commission. The result of NA-88 was withheld by the ECP due to complaints of fraud and it would be announced after redressing the grievances of the aggrieved. It showed that only five results were pending.

The courts in Pakistan have been flooded with petitions as candidates, mostly backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), challenged the results of Thursday's general elections, alleging rigging. Most of the petitions were filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC), while two PTI-backed candidates moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the results, and at least three petitions were filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC). The Election Commission is still to announce the full results of the polls.

Hundreds of supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) Islamist political party took to the streets of Lahore on Saturday (February 10) to condemn early election results and the delay in announcing final vote tallies.
Addressing the chanting crowd, TLP leader Saad Rizvi criticised the Election Commission and said widespread irregularities were observed during elections.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) asserted on Saturday that President Arif Alvi would extend an invitation to his party to form the government, citing a reported majority in the National Assembly. To establish a government, a party must secure 133 seats out of 265 in the National Assembly, excluding one seat for which the election was postponed due to a candidate's demise. However, a simple majority of 169 seats out of a total of 336, including reserved slots, is required.

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Candidates backed by the party of jailed Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan plan to form a government, a senior aide to the former prime minister said on Saturday, urging supporters to peacefully protest if final election results are not released. Amid rigging allegations, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered re-polling in some of the polling stations. The re-polling is scheduled for February 15. 

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Balochistan remained cut off from Sindh and Punjab on Saturday as different highways and roads were blocked due to protests against alleged election rigging by workers and supporters of various political parties, reported Dawn.

Amid allegations of rigging in the elections, Imran Khan's PTI party announced a countrywide protest.