ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket legend turned opposition stalwart Imran Khan claimed victory Thursday in the country's tense elections, following accusations of poll rigging by rival parties.
"We were successful and we were given a mandate," Khan said during a live broadcast, adding there was "no politician victimisation" in the contest.
The unprecedented delay, along with a surprisingly strong lead in early results for Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, have fuelled widespread fears over the legitimacy of the exercise.
Newspapers and television channels have been predicting victory for PTI since late Wednesday.
By Thursday partial, unofficial results gave him at least 100 seats so far in the National Assembly, the lower house.
A majority of 137 seats is needed to form a government.
Election authorities have not yet confirmed when they expect to announce the results.
Some reports suggested it would not be until Thursday evening at the earliest.
The short but acrimonious campaign season largely boiled down to a two-way race between Khan's PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, whose brother Shahbaz is leading its campaign.
Khan, who captained Pakistan to their World Cup cricket victory in 1992, vowed during the campaign to tackle widespread graft while building an "Islamic welfare state".
But he was dogged by accusations he was benefiting from a "silent coup" by the generals which targeted the PML-N.
Sharif was ousted from power last year and jailed over a corruption conviction days before the vote, removing Khan's most dangerous rival.
Khan has also increasingly catered to hardline religious groups, sparking fears a win for PTI could embolden Islamist extremists.
Cricket star turned politician Imran Khan declares victory in Pakistan’s historic elections
Cricket star turned politician Imran Khan declares victory in Pakistan’s historic elections
- Newspapers and television channels have been predicting victory for PTI since late Wednesday.
- Election authorities have not yet confirmed when they expect to announce the results
Man tackled to ground after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall
- The audience cheered as he was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back
MINNEAPOLIS: A man wearing a black jacket was tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on US Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
The audience cheered as he was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.” Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room.
Just before that Omar called for the abolishment of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign. “ICE cannot be reformed,” she said.
Minneapolis police did not immediately respond to a phone call and email message seeking information on the incident and whether anyone was arrested.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.
President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and has stepped up verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turned his focus on Minneapolis.
During a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “garbage” and added that “her friends are garbage.”
Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”
“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.
He added: “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”
Fellow US Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, R-S.C., denounced the assault on Omar.
“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via the social platform X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”
The attack came days after a man was arrested in Utah for allegedly punching US Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.
