Candidates backed by former Pakistani premier Imran Khan 's party plan to form a government , a senior aide to the jailed politician said on Saturday, calling on supporters to peacefully protest if final election results were not released. Pakistan's army chief had congratulated the country on Saturday for the "successful conduct" of its national elections, saying the nation needed "stable hands" to move on from the politics of "anarchy and polarisation".Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir "wishes that these elections bring in political and economic stability and prove to be the harbinger of peace and prosperity," according to a statement released by the media wing of the military. The United States, Britain and the European Union on Friday each expressed concerns about the electoral process, urging a probe into reported irregularities.British Foreign Secretary David Cameron cited "serious concerns" that raised questions "about the fairness and lack of inclusivity of the elections".Pakistan's foreign office countered the international criticisms on Saturday, saying they ignore the "undeniable fact" of Pakistan conducting elections successfully. In Pakistan, independent candidates cannot form a government on their own and need to join a party.The banner for independent candidates backed by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will be announced within the next 24 hours, Bukhari said. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel

Source: Economic Times February 11, 2024 01:18 UTC