In the aftermath of Pakistan’s general election, a senior aide to the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Saturday their intention to form the next government. The declaration came amidst a closely contested electoral battle that saw Khan and his chief rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, both asserting victory.
Gohar Ali Khan, serving as the interim party chief in Imran Khan‘s absence, urged all Pakistani institutions to honor the electoral mandate won by their party, which emerged as the front-runner despite significant obstacles. These challenges included Khan’s imprisonment and the official barring of his party from the election, circumstances that led independent candidates aligned with Khan to secure the highest number of seats.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Gohar Ali Khan highlighted the party’s readiness to launch a peaceful protest on Sunday if the full election results were not disclosed by Saturday night. This stance underscores the tense political atmosphere in Pakistan, where the delay in election results and the contention over the validity of claims of victory have intensified the struggle for power.
