Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan seems hopeful of becoming the next Prime Minister of Pakistan with his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerging as the largest party in the National Assembly. In the election marred with allegations of military bias and rigging, PTI is likely to touch majority mark on its own.
While the result sent PTI supporters roaming the Pak streets in celebration, the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) warned of protests.
With short pace of counting giving rise to the allegations of manipulation of the election process, the Election Commission of Pakistan has clarified that the delay was on account of a new system - Results Transmission System - introduced by it.
Although the final results are yet to come in, projections show that Imran Khan's PTI will not need to form alliances.
Here are 10 latest updates on Pakistan election 2018 results:
1. As per the latest count, PTI is leading on 113 National Assembly seats, PML-N trailing behind with lead on 64 seats. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has leads on 43 seats.
2. In an unusual press conference at 4am local time, Chief Election Commissioner Muhammad Raza Khan rejected the allegations of rigging.
3. He acknowledged that the delay in announcement of election results has "caused some annoyance".
4. The CEC stressed the delay was on account of a new system - Results Transmission System - introduced by it.
5. Asked about the doubts and the allegations, he said: "We will prove ourselves that we did our job right."
6. Earlier, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore outrightly rejected the results, alleging "blatant" rigging of the election, even though the vote count was under way.
7. Sharif said that "these were the dirtiest polls in Pakistan's history."
8. Sharif warned his party would launch protests against the alleged rigging.
9. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also tweeted last night, saying he had not received official results from any constituency he was contesting, despite it being past midnight.
10. Sensing victory, hundreds of PTI supporters came out on streets in jubilation. They parked their vehicles in the middle of roads, played loud music and danced through the streets in several cities, including the capital Islamabad.
