After the election of the National and Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan, the counting of votes is going on. Elections were held across the country on Thursday (February 8). News from Reuters and Dawn.

Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf showed a big surprise in announcing the preliminary results of the national elections. So far independent candidates supported by PTI have won 3 more seats. He is ahead in 3 more seats.

On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif's party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won both. It is ahead in 3 seats. In the meantime, the party chief and former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has confirmed the victory. Besides, Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won one seat.

Earlier, the booth polls showed Nawaz Sharif's party leading. In addition to the international media, the survey of the local media of Pakistan also indicated the victory of the PML-N. However, Imran's team is showing surprise in the initial results. It is believed that the main fight in this election will be between PTI and PML-N.

It is said that who will be in power in Pakistan and which party will lose power depends on the country's army. In 2018, PTI leader Imran Khan formed the government with the blessings of the army. After four years in 2022, the former world-winning captain had to leave the mattress due to the disaffiliation of the army. There is a discussion in the political circles of Pakistan that the support of the 'influential' army is towards Nawaz Sharif in this election.

In Pakistan, 266 seats in the National Assembly are directly polled. Voting in one seat was earlier suspended after a candidate was shot dead by miscreants ahead of the polls. So voting was done yesterday in 265 constituencies.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan could not participate in this election in Pakistan. He is now in jail after being sentenced in three separate cases. However, Imran Khan cast his vote from inside the jail.

On the occasion of the election, Thursday was declared a public holiday. Voting started from 8 am on this day. which lasts till 5 pm. General voters voted in 90 thousand 675 booths.

According to the local televisions, only 20 percent of the votes have been counted in the 265 seats of the National Assembly this time, seven hours after the polling.