Islamabad: In Pakistan, the results of the general election have not been announced even after 24 hours. It was earlier announced that the result will be declared at 5 pm. The result started to be known by this morning but the complete information was not available.
The Election Commission of Pakistan informed that the result was delayed due to internet problem. The polling officials were asked to provide the election results as soon as possible. But the Internet problem was faced on a large scale, said Special Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Zafar Iqbal.
Mobile phone services were also suspended in the country after 16 people were killed and 54 injured in the election-related violence. The Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that this also caused the result to be delayed.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI), are barred from contesting the elections. Therefore, independent candidates entered the fray with the support of PTI. The name and symbol of PTI, which is prohibited even for holding an election rally, was removed from the ballot paper. Then the candidates were forced to contest as independents with party support.
According to the official results, independents supported by PTI are leading in 46 seats. Pakistan Muslim League led by Nawaz Sharif has got 38 seats and Pakistan Peoples Party 31 seats so far. The party that gets 134 seats can form the government.
The delay in the election result will also reflect on the economic condition of Pakistan. The Karachi stock market is reported to have fallen due to this uncertainty. The delay in the results has also raised concern among the people. At least some people have expressed doubts about the transparency of the elections. People say that the possibility of irregularity in the result is certain.