The delay in the announcement of the general election results has sparked concerns among various stakeholders, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a US lawmaker. The interior ministry attributed the delay to connectivity issues, stating that internet suspension on the polling day was implemented to bolster security measures, as reported by Dawn.
In a social media post, the ministry assured that the delay had been assessed and deemed the situation "satisfactory," expressing optimism for the uninterrupted continuation of result announcements.
US lawmaker Brad Sherman also weighed in on the issue, emphasizing the importance of timely result disclosure. He urged for press freedom in Pakistan, stating that there should be no unjustified delays in announcing election outcomes.
Meanwhile, PTI-backed candidate Basharat Raja raised concerns over discrepancies between Form 45 and Form 47 results in Rawalpindi's NA-55 constituency. The PTI asserted that its supporters' significant voter turnout had rattled the established system during the 2024 general elections, insinuating that the withholding of results was a tactic to suppress the party's anticipated victory.
As political parties voiced grievances regarding the delayed election outcomes and questioned the integrity of the electoral process, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) intervened, directing all provincial Election Commissioners and Returning Officers to expedite result announcements within thirty minutes or face strict consequences.
In order to secure governance in the country, a party must clinch victory in at least 133 out of 265 seats. Notably, polling on one seat was postponed due to the unfortunate demise of a candidate.
(With Agency Inputs)
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