Pakistan General Election, Former Prime Minister Sharif Claims Victory... Proposes Coalition Government

In Pakistan, where the general election vote counting is ongoing for the second day, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has declared victory and proposed forming a coalition government with other parties.

According to foreign media on the 9th (local time), Sharif delivered a speech at the central party headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the eastern city of Lahore, claiming that the PML-N became the largest party in the general election held the previous day.

He said, "We invite everyone today to discuss forming a coalition government to rebuild this wounded Pakistan," and encouraged independent candidates and other parties to participate, expressing respect for all.

Sharif also explained that party officials would meet with other parties during the day to discuss ways to form a coalition government.

According to the election commission's vote counting results, out of 265 constituencies where elections were held, counting was completed in 200, with PML-N candidates winning in 59 constituencies, securing the largest number of seats among officially registered parties. Candidates from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, won in 44 constituencies.

However, independent candidates affiliated with former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were reported to have won in 85 constituencies.

Initially, Sharif was expected to win the general election easily with the support of the influential military, but the strong performance of PTI-affiliated independent candidates defied expectations, falling short of initial hopes.

As a result, it is interpreted that Sharif may change his strategy by leveraging his status as the largest party to push for forming a coalition government.

Former Prime Minister Khan was unable to run as he was imprisoned after being convicted. Additionally, PTI was banned from using its party symbol, forcing its candidates to run as independents.

Meanwhile, this general election was held amid a chaotic atmosphere, with a series of terrorist attacks similar to previous elections.

On the day before the election, the 7th, two bomb attacks occurred near the offices of general election candidates in southwestern Balochistan, killing 28 people. On election day, terrorist attacks took place in at least 51 locations, resulting in 12 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.