Pakistan parties intensify protests amid allegations of election rigging

The Pakistan general elections 2018, which have produced some stunning upset results with many of the political parties crying foul play, led people to streets in Banno and Mardan to protest against the Election Commission alleging a rigging.

"Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Awami National Party held widespread protests in Banno and Mardan against Election Commission of Pakistan alleging election rigging," the news agency ANI reported.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed victory in the general elections after his party emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly with its candidates winning 98 seats and leading in 20 others, amid rival political parties' claim of "blatant" rigging.

#Pakistan: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Awami National Party held widespread protests in Banno & Mardan against Election Commission of Pakistan alleging election rigging. pic.twitter.com/0vO3n4qvKS

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2018

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Meanwhile, in a different incident, scores of people in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan have been staging a protest at Ghizer town denouncing the violation of Anti-Terrorism Act by the government.

Earlier in July, Pakistani authorities opened a criminal investigation into leaders of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N under an anti-terrorism law, 10 days before the election on July 25.

However, amid this growing protest, Imran Khan has started reaching out to leaders to form the next government in Pakistan after his party won a majority of seats in Parliament.

The PTI has bagged 115 of the 270 National Assembly (NA) seats, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan which has released results on 267 seats.

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Khan led his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to victory in the parliamentary elections, amid a growing consensus among South Asia experts and Pakistan-observers that it was greatly influenced and meddled by the strong Pakistani Army.