ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s likely new prime minister Imran Khan opened coalition talks with at least one smaller party and independent politicians on Saturday, a spokesman said, after the announcement of full results of an election disputed by rivals.
Khan’s party did better than expected to scoop up 16.86 million votes, trouncing the party of jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif, which finished second with 12.89 million and said on Saturday that a party member had been killed.
But the 116 seats won by Khan’s lawmakers were not enough to give him a majority in the 272-seat National Assembly without coalition partners, and he has ruled out both of the other two major parties, calling them corrupt.
Officials from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), or Pakistan Movement for Justice, party said they were in talks with independents and at least one other political party to form a coalition government.
“We are pretty much there in the National Assembly ... talks are going on with MQM as well,” said Faisal Javed Khan, a senior PTI spokesman.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has dominated politics in the port megacity of Karachi for decades, and won six seats in the general election after splitting with its longtime leader, Altaf Hussain.
The PTI spokesman said Khan was expected to take the oath as prime minister around Aug. 14, Pakistan’s independence day.
PTI spokesman Naeem Ul Haq told a news conference that the party would also form a government in the most populous province, Punjab, and there would “good news” by Sunday.
DELAYS
The poll has been marred by long delays in counting and complaints of rigging by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. Some of the smaller religious parties are threatening street protests if the poll is not re-run.
PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that he was “outraged” by the killing of a party member in the northern city of Mansehra and that demanding a recount was a party’s legal right. He did not specify when the party member was killed.
“PML-N is a peaceful national political party and fear & intimidation can’t suppress our rights,” Sharif tweeted.
Khan has offered to investigate any claims of irregularities in the wake of Wednesday’s poll.
European Union observers were critical of the political climate in the run-up to the vote, saying that some parties had been disadvantaged. In their preliminary findings, the observers said the electoral process was “not as good” as the 2013 election and campaign week featured a “lack of equality” that meant it was not a level playing field for all parties. The United States voiced similar concerns.
Khan’s 116 seats puts him short of the 137 required for an assembly majority, meaning he is likely to need a coalition with religious parties and independents to form a government.
Two newly formed small parties are seen as being open to an alliance with Khan’s PTI.
The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a new alliance in Sindh province, has two seats.
The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), another new group formed by a number of seasoned political names from the southwesterly Baluchistan province, picked up four seats.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday released results for 270 seats, with elections in two seats postponed. Several were being recounted.
The coalition arithmetic is slightly complicated by the fact that a further 70 seats, most reserved for women and members of non-Muslim minorities, are allocated to parties on the basis of their performance in the contested constituencies. Once those seats are added in, any coalition will need at least 172 seats.
Pakistan's Khan in coalition talks with small party, independents
Pakistan's Khan in coalition talks with small party, independents
- Khan’s seats not enough to gain a majority
- Khan’s PTI in talks with MQM
Afghanistan fires at Pakistani jets over Kabul as conflict intensifies
- Violence follows air strikes inside Afghanistan this week Pakistan says targeted militant infrastructure
- Pakistan says operation against Afghan forces ongoing, security forces destroyed Afghan posts, camps
KABUL: Afghanistan said it was firing at Pakistani jets in Kabul after blasts and gunfire rocked the capital on Sunday, compounding instability in a region rattled by US–Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on US targets in Gulf states.
The Taliban-ruled state has suffered Pakistani strikes against government installations over the past week following accusations, which it denies, that it harbors militants.
The heaviest fighting in years between the neighbors has raised fears of a protracted conflict along their 2,600-km (1,615-mile) border, with several countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia calling for restraint and offering to help mediate a ceasefire.
Explosions echoed across parts of Kabul before sunrise, followed by bursts of gunfire, a Reuters witness said. It was not clear what had been targeted or whether there were casualties.
Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the sounds were the result of Afghan forces targeting Pakistani aircraft over the capital.
“Air defense attacks were carried out in Kabul against Pakistani aircraft. Kabul residents should not be concerned,” Mujahid said.
Pakistan’s prime minister’s office, information ministry and military did not respond to requests for comment.
The violence follows air strikes inside Afghanistan this week that Pakistan said targeted militant infrastructure. Afghanistan described the strikes as a violation of sovereignty and announced retaliatory operations along their shared border.
Iran, which shares borders with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, had offered to help facilitate dialogue before itself coming under attack on Saturday from Israel and the US bent on diminishing Iran’s military capability.
ACCUSATION AND ESCALATION
Pakistan has said Afghanistan harbors Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, which it said are waging an insurgency inside Pakistan.
Afghanistan has denied the accusation, saying it does not allow Afghan territory to be used against other countries and that Pakistan’s security challenges are an internal matter.
Pakistani security sources have said operation “Ghazab Lil Haq,” meaning “Wrath for the Truth,” was ongoing and that Pakistani forces had destroyed Afghan posts and camps.
Both sides have reported heavy losses, issuing differing casualty figures for each other.
Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
Diplomatic efforts have intensified, with Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, the European Union and United Nations urging restraint and calling for talks.
The US said it supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself.
Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the fighting as “open war.”
Afghanistan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said the conflict would be “very costly.” He said only front-line forces were engaged in fighting that the country has yet to fully deploy its military.
