Advantage Imran in violent poll

Imran Khan speaks to the media after voting at a polling station in Islamabad during the general election on Wednesday. (AFP) 

Nasir Jaffry and Agencies, TT, Jul 26, 2018, Islamabad: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's party seemed to be going strong in Pakistan's national elections shortly after midnight, leading in 105 seats to main rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's 71, on a day a suicide bomber killed at least 31 people near a polling centre in Quetta.

The possibility of a fractured verdict, however, hung over the country with Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) still 31 short of the majority mark of 136 for the 270 seats on offer, with trends for 268 seats already in. Polling had been postponed in two constituencies following the deaths of candidates in terror attacks.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former President Asif Ali Zardari was leading in 39 seats, indicating he could be a "kingmaker" in a hung parliament, while Independents led in 23 seats.

The election had been plagued by allegations that the powerful military was trying to tilt the race in Imran's favour after falling out with the outgoing ruling party of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was jailed on corruption charges this month.

Imran, describing the election as one of the most crucial in Pakistan's history, dismissed Indian media reports that said his election as Prime Minister would not be in Pakistan's interests.

"Indians have been making such remarks because Nawaz Sharif actually served them and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi while they know it for sure that I'm the kind of person who would not listen to anything that is not in Pakistan's interest," he said.

"India's main objective is to weaken the Pakistani armed forces, and Nawaz Sharif helped them fully well."

Marriyum Aurangzeb, spokesperson for Sharif's party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), raised objections over the counting process and alleged that her party's agents were being forced out from the polling stations in several constituencies.

India is outraged that a party led by Hafiz Saeed, a militant leader it accuses of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is in the fray as are many candidates from radical Islamist groups.

Police said the suicide bomber tried to enter a polling station and blew himself up on being accosted. Some reports said the bomber drove his motorcycle into a police vehicle. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility.

Four others were killed in poll-related violence. A hand grenade attack on a polling station in Khuzdar, Balochistan, killed a policeman and wounded three. A PTI worker died in a gunfight with supporters of the Pakhtun nationalist Awami National Party.

Some 450,000 police and 370,000 soldiers were deployed. Earlier this month, a suicide bomber had killed over 150 people at a poll rally in Mastung, Balochistan.

Polling for the national and four provincial assemblies began at 8.30am Indian time with substantial turnouts but the news of the Quetta attack came as a dampener. "I urge voters to come out of their homes and cast votes," Imran said.

Imran's triumphant gesture, casting his ballot in front of TV cameras, could see his vote disqualified. The Election Commission issued a statement confirming it had summoned him for violating "the secrecy of the ballot paper". (Source & Courtesy: The Telegraph)