Pakistan elections: PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Friday (February 9) claimed victory even though the counting of votes for the February 8 general elections continued. He claimed that PML-N has emerged as the largest party in the country. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the results of 224 constituencies have been declared, showing that independents won 92 seats, PML-N 63, PPP 50, Muttahida Qaumi Movement 12 and other parties got 7 seats..
Nawaz said that he wants to lead the country to prosperity while developing peaceful relations with neighbours.
Apparently referring to India, the former PM also vowed that he wants 'peaceful relations' with everyone, including the neighbours.
"The light will return, unemployment will be eradicated, and the poor will be able to. The country's situation will improve. And we want our relations to remain good with the world as well as with our neighbours. We will improve our relations with them and resolve our differences," he added.
Nawaz pitches for coalition govt
Addressing his party workers in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif said that he has told his younger brother Shehbaz to reach out to the PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari, JUI-F’s Fazlur Rehman and MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui for the formation of a coalition government.
“Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar will hold meetings today,” Dawn quoted Nawaz Sharif as saying.
He said that he respects the mandate of all parties, including that of the independents.
“We are inviting everyone today to rebuild this injured Pakistan and sit with us. Our agenda is only a happy Pakistan and you know what we have done before,” Dawn quoted him as saying.
“We are all congratulating today because in these elections PML-N has emerged as the largest party in the country,” he added.
Need for all parties to sit together, form a government: Nawaz
Citing the need for all political parties to sit together and form a government, Nawaz Sharif said that elections cannot be held again and again and everyone should play a positive role in bringing Pakistan out of crisis.
“We can’t hold elections again and again. We were all sitting together yesterday but didn’t address you because the results were not in. All the institutions in this country, every one should together play a positive role in bringing Pakistan out of this crisis,” Nawaz was quoted as saying by Dawn.
“This is everyone’s Pakistan, not just PML-N’s. Everyone should sit in harmony and bring Pakistan out of the difficulties,” he added.
Don't have majority to form government on our own: Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif said that his party does not have majority to form government on its own and has invited other parties to come together.
"We do not have the majority to form government on our own. So, we will invite other parties to form the government. I have assigned this duty to Shehbaz Sharif," he said.
Pakistan election vote counting
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif won the NA-130 seat from Lahore with 179,310 votes, according to provisional results released by the ECP. The PTI-backed Yasmin Rashid was the runner-up with 104,485 votes.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the results of 224 constituencies have been declared, showing that independents won 92 seats, PML-N 63, PPP 50, Muttahida Qaumi Movement 12 and other parties got 7 seats. The independents were supported by the PTI and they could join any party after elections except the PTI because its intra-party elections were declared null and void and it was deprived of a common symbol before elections.
