“Our people have spoken”: Imran Khan claims victory amid counting votes in Pakistan

As the counting of votes was underway for the Pakistan general elections held on Thursday, Pakistan Tehreek e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan claimed victory, saying that the people demonstrated their resolve to elect his party by turning out in large numbers to vote.

PTI chief organiser Omar Ayub Khan and PTI Parliamentary Leader in Senate Barrister Ali Zafar said that preliminary results were very encouraging for their party, showing it as convincingly leading on an overwhelming number of seats across the nation.

The jailed Pakistani leader also insisted on protecting ‘Form 45’ to guard the people’s mandate and expressed confidence over his victory, saying, “no force can defeat an idea whose time has come.”

“Despite every possible method employed to undermine the will of the people, our people have spoken via #MassiveTurnout for vote today. As we have repeatedly stated, “no force can defeat an idea whose time has come.” It is now critical to guard the vote by getting Form 45,” Imran Khan posted from his X handle.

Form 45, commonly referred to as the ‘Result of the Count’ form, is a crucial record in the Pakistani electoral process. It is intended to uphold openness and accountability by documenting and disclosing the outcomes of the voting procedure at a particular polling place.

Khan also shared an image of the trends emerging from the ongoing counting, with PTI-backed Independent candidates leading in 125 seats, Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) in 44 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 28, MQM at 9 and JUI at 4.

Polling for general elections in Pakistan concluded amid allegations of rigging and the shutdown of cellular and internet services, Dawn reported on Thursday.