Protesters in Pakistan block highways in protest of election results

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

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

The final tally saw the majority of seats being won by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e0Insaf (PTI) party as well as its affiliates. Of 264 seats PTI secured 95 compared to ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party who came second with 75 seats.

As no party won 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.

Amid those tricky talks, controversy persists over allegations of vote rigging. The PTI is also protesting that Khan was not able to run in the election due to criminal convictions, some of which were pushed through just ahead of the vote.

Alongside other parties, the PTI has refused to accept defeat in dozens of constituencies, claiming vote tampering. Thousands haven taken to the streets over the last few days in Lahore, which has seen dozens arrested. 

A government spokesperson in the province of Balochistan, Jan Achakzai, urged protesters to “show grace” by accepting defeat and moving from the highways.

Police had previously warned that they would come down hard on illegal gatherings and cited a Section 144 order, a colonial-era law banning public gatherings.

Islamabad’s police forced issued a statement saying: “Some individuals are inciting illegal gatherings around the Election Commission and other government offices.”