Pakistani protesters block highways to demonstrate against election results

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and its affiliates won the most seats in the final tally published on Sunday.

Thousands of protesters have blocked highways and started a daylong strike to demonstrate against the results of last week’s general election in Pakistan.

The demonstrations on Monday follow the announcement of the final results from the February 8 vote, with tensions high amid claims of vote rigging and tampering, and intense uncertainty over the formation of the next government.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its affiliates won the most seats in the final tally published on Sunday, securing 95 of 264 seats. Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party came second with 75 seats.

With no one party winning a majority, complex negotiations are ongoing over forming a coalition government that will pick the country’s next prime minister.

With dozens of constituency results facing challenges in court, Pakistan has weeks of political uncertainty ahead.