PTI supporters in protest wearing Imran Khan's mask

The PTI's protest is going on in the capital Islamabad against the rigging of election results. Many leaders and activists of the party participated in the protest wearing masks of imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan.

Four days after Pakistan's general election, the country's Election Commission (ECP) announced the results of all but one National Assembly seat on Sunday (February 11). 

However, Imran Khan's party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has accused of rigging and irregularities due to the delay in releasing the results. The leaders and supporters of the party have also started protesting on the streets to protest the rigging of the results.

Protests have been going on in the capital Islamabad since Sunday (February 11) morning. Thousands of supporters of the party participated wearing the party flag, election symbol bat and Imran Khan masks. These pictures of the protest were published in international media such as Al Jazeera. It has also spread through social media.

General elections were held in Pakistan last Thursday (February 8). 265 of the 266 seats in the National Assembly (with one suspended) were also polled in provincial government elections. 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could not or did not announce the full results by the following day, Friday (February 9). About 12 hours after the end of polling, the results started coming out but it was very slow.

Several political parties expressed anger and frustration over allegations of rigging due to the delay in the declaration of results. The United States, the European Union and the international community also expressed concern. Four days later, on Sunday (February 11) at noon, the results of 264 out of 265 constituencies came out. 

According to the ECP results, independent candidates have won the maximum number of 102 seats out of 264 seats. Of which 97 are supported by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is in second position after winning 75 seats.

Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won 54 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) came in fourth with 17 seats. As no party got the majority or 134 seats required to form the government alone, the last two parties namely PPP and MQM-P became the kingmakers.

Apart from this, some other small parties got the opportunity to go to the National Assembly. This means that the major political parties will have to burn a lot of wood to form the government. The leaders of the PML-N, who came in second place, started running long before the full results were announced. Which is gaining momentum with time.

In the meantime, several political parties have complained of irregularities and rigging due to the delay in the election results. Thousands of activists and supporters of PTI, JI and JUI-F have been gathering and protesting in various cities of Pakistan including the capital Islamabad and Peshawar since last Saturday (February 10).

PTI has alleged that many of its candidates won the elections but the results were rigged.

Kamal Haider, Al Jazeera's journalist from Islamabad, said the moratorium has been imposed on three seats where PTI-backed independent candidates won by huge margins.

He said if it is not settled by legal means, the protest could spread across the country and possibly turn into a movement.

Kamal Haider said that due to this kind of suspension, the formation of the next government will be delayed. PTI supporters say they will not sit quietly and let the mandate given to their party by the people be stolen.

PTI activists argue that the shutdown of the internet on election day is proof of how the state tried to interfere with the results. We believe that the state institutions are totally involved in this and it is sad. They should respect the people's vote.

The PTI is clearly saying that the results of at least 18 National Assembly seats have been altered by the presiding officers.

PTI won those seats. The party's general secretary Omar Ayub said in a post on X that these corrupt, spineless bureaucrats are stealing the mandate that the people have given to the PTI.

It has also announced to go to court with allegations of rigging. Meanwhile, Nawaz's PMLN has formed a legal team to deal with allegations of rigging.