After nearly three days of counting, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finally announced complete results for all constituencies and for National Assembly seats.
PTI: Top Contender
PTI’s overall win has been definitively announced: it stands out as the largest party in the country, having won 115 out of the total 270 seats that the elections were contested on. The PML-N stands second, with 64 seats, while the PPP holds the third place at 43 seats. However, although the PTI came close, it is still 22 seats short of being able to form a majority in the assembly.
Where PTI is Likely to Go From Here
PTI will have to form coalitions with independent candidates and other parties in order to be able to govern. It can end up forming coalitions with parties such as the MQM, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
A Few Surprises:
The MQM has secured only 6 seats in the assembly while the GDA has won a total of 2. Interestingly enough, the far-right wing coalition of religious parties, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has 12 NA seats under its belt. Furthermore, the Awami National Party (ANP) whose leader Haroon Bilour was recently killed in a blast during election campaigning, has bagged just one seat for itself.
The Battle For the Provinces
As for provinces, PML-N remains the strongest influence in Punjab, having won 129 out of the 295 provincial seat vacancies – but its second-place rival PTI is right at its heels with 123 and can catch up to PML-N with the help of coalitions with independents.
The PPP has dominated in Sindh by a large margin, winning 76 out of 130 seats – its closest contender is the PTI with 23 seats. PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto has already put forward Murad Ali Shah as Chief Minister candidate.
As for KP, PTI has made history – it is the first party to consecutively return to power in KP’s provincial assembly a second time. It has secured 66 out of a total of 97 seats for itself.
In Balochistan, although the BAP is at the top of the list regarding the number of seats won (15), the situation remains unclear as it has many close contenders to deal with. There is the Balochistan National Party as well as the Hazara Democratic Party, and the PTI who has won 4 seats in this region.
Recounting May Still Change Things
These results may still not be ECP’s final word on the matter, due to rigging complaints and thus the recounting of votes that is currently taking place. Moreover, the seats in NA up for grabs were in actuality 272 – but voting took place on 270 only. The elections for these two seats will most probably be held side by side with by-elections.