Imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the victory of his supporters in the country's general elections, via a video clip produced using artificial intelligence.
The section Former cricket star It was uploaded to social media on Friday just hours after his rival Nawaz Sharif He also claimed that he won even though the votes were still being counted.
Several candidates from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were forced to run as independents in the election after an alleged crackdown that saw senior party figures jailed and their electoral activities restricted.
In the video, Khan can be heard asking the independent candidates to celebrate their victory, while also refusing to declare Sharif the winner.
“You laid the foundation for your true freedom by voting yesterday,” he is heard saying. Sharif is also referred to as a “disgraced man” for claiming victory.
With nearly 90% of the results in on Friday evening, independent candidates backed by Khan's PTI party won 95 seats, while Sharif's party won 95 seats. Pakistan The Muslim League (PML) got 66 seats.
169 seats are needed to obtain a majority in the 336-seat council. About 265 seats are competing in Thursday's elections.
This came at a time when the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States questioned the integrity of the vote.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lord Cameron He said there were “serious concerns” about the “integrity and lack of inclusiveness of the elections” amid accusations of military interference and voter fraud.
He added in a statement issued on Friday evening: “We regret that not all parties were officially allowed to run in the elections, and that legal measures were used to prevent some political leaders from participating.”
During the election campaign, police prevented the PTI from holding rallies and opening offices, while the party was also banned from using its symbol – the cricket bat – to help illiterate voters find it on ballot papers.
Khan and other senior PTI figures were as well Imprisonment on charges they claimed were politically motivated.
Read more: Pakistani elections: Prisoner, kingmaker, and unexpected return
“We don't have enough of a majority”
After declaring victory on Friday, Sharif He told reporters that his younger brother, fellow former leader Shehbaz Sharif, would hold talks with other party leaders to discuss the way forward, just a day after he rejected the idea of joining forces with any of his rivals.
He admitted: “We do not have a sufficient majority to form a government without the support of others and we call on allies to join the coalition so that we can make joint efforts to withdraw.” Pakistan Of her problems.”
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Sky's Cordelia Lynch gives the latest news as Pakistan's election results come in
The former prime minister also urged the winning independent candidates to join his potential coalition.
“I don’t want to fight with those who are in the mood to fight,” he said. “We will have to sit together to settle all matters.”
He said that the meetings will include talks with Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and father of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the Pakistan People's Party, which is in third place so far with 51 seats.
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Poll workers count votes in Karachi. Photo: Reuters
“Interference in the electoral process”
Sharif, who served as Pakistan's prime minister three times before, returned to the country in October after four years of self-imposed exile, including a stint in London, to avoid serving multiple prison sentences.
But within weeks of his return, his conviction was overturned, leaving him free to run for a fourth term.
The elections were held amid tight security measures, with thousands of troops deployed in the streets and at polling stations across the country.
Pakistan's borders with Iran and Afghanistan have also been temporarily closed as security measures have been tightened.
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“Democracy in Pakistan under the microscope”
Police also said that two people were killed and six injured in the Shangla district in the northwest of the country after clashes broke out between Khan's supporters and officers.
The US State Department said the elections were held amid restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly.
Spokesman Matthew Miller added: “We are concerned about allegations of interference in the electoral process.”
The European Union also called on the authorities to ensure a “full and timely investigation” into all reported electoral irregularities.
