Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry defended the fairness of the February 8th general elections, expressing surprise at the “negative tone” of some international statements regarding the polls. Independent Candidates Aligned with Khan Triumph:Independent candidates affiliated with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emerged as the biggest surprise, winning the most National Assembly seats with 98 (22 still unclaimed). This defied pre-election expectations favoring the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) party, which currently holds 69 seats. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) follows with 51 seats. This leaves the selection of the next prime minister open to negotiation and coalition-building among the various parties.

Source: Daily News Egypt February 10, 2024 11:04 UTC