Popular former Prime Minister Imran Khan's candidates defied predictions and appeared to be ahead after Pakistan's general election, according to unofficial polls broadcast on television Friday (February 9).
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan's party, was not allowed to contest as a party in Thursday's elections, but tallies by local television channels show that candidates independents - including dozens affiliated with his party - are leading in most constituencies.
At 6:00 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) - more than 13 hours after polls closed - the Election Commission of Pakistan announced only eight results, with three parliamentary seats going to PTI-linked candidates.
“Internet problems”
She cited
“Internet issues”
to explain the slow process.
The television channels based their projections on counts carried out at the local constituency level.
According to these polls, candidates close to Imran Khan, currently imprisoned and who could not run, hold a lead in most of the ballots intended to elect the 336 deputies of the federal parliament and renew the country's provincial assemblies.
The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), supported by the army according to observers, was nevertheless the big favorite of the election, its leader, Nawaz Sharif, hoping to lead the country for the fourth time at the end of the election.