PML-N confident of forming govt in Punjab province

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz on Friday expressed confidence of forming government in Punjab province.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PML-N won 127 seats out of results declared on 289 seats so far. The Punjab Assembly comprises 295 members.

Speaking at a press conference here, Hamza who is the son of party president Shehbaz Sharif was quoted by Geo News saying: "The PML-N has emerged as the biggest party in Punjab [in the elections], and we will form a government in Punjab. We will fight back if any obstacles are [hurled in our way]."

Thanking the people of Pakistan for voting for PML-N, Hamza underlined that under the leadership of Shehbaz and jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the party would continue to discharge its constitutional duties.

Taking on the ECP for delaying the results of the general elections, Hamza asserted that it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that the results had been delayed by over a day.

"The Results Transmission System (RTS) also failed despite (Pakistani) Rs. 21 billion invested in it," he further said.

The ECP on Thursday announced that final results of Pakistan elections would be out within 24 hours. It further clarified that the Pakistan polls were conducted freely and fairly.

Pakistan went to polls on Wednesday and the counting of votes began soon thereafter in the evening.
The ECP has released provincial results of 260 out of 270 National Assembly (NA) constituencies, which shows that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is leading with 116 seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP), who are in the second (59 seats) and third positions (42 seats) respectively, according to Geo News.

Other parties are leading in 30 seats, while independent candidates have 19 seats.

Various political parties and journalists have alleged the elections to be rigged in favour of Imran Khan.

--ANI