Counting of votes in Pakistan is underway, a day after polls were marred by violence and internet shutdown. Pakistan voted to elect its new government on Thursday.

So far, results on only 12 of the 265 contested seats have been announced officially.

Jailed Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party-backed independents were leading in a number of constituencies across the country, giving a tough challenge to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's PML-N in its stronghold Punjab.

Five seats were secured by candidates backed by Imran Khan who were contesting as independents, while four were won by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Three seats were taken by the Pakistan Peoples Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto.

A countrywide public holiday was declared to enable more than 12 crore voters to cast their ballots. Counting of votes began after the polls and the results from individual polling stations started to pour in after the mandatory one-hour restriction ended.

HERE ARE TOP DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN ELECTION/RESULTS 2024

In total, 266 National Assembly seats were up for grabs out of 336, but polling was postponed on at least one seat after a candidate was killed in a gun attack in Bajaur. Another 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for minorities, and are allotted to the winning parties based on proportional representation, news agency PTI reported.

So far, results on only 12 of the 265 contested seats have been announced officially.

Three seats were taken by the Pakistan Peoples Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of assassinated premier Benazir Bhutto.

Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Friday said that “unprecedented voter turnout” has stunned the entire system and attempts were being made to “alter” the poll results.

"Supporters of Tehreek-e-Insaaf have shocked and worried the entire system with the historic turnout, fearing the historic victory of Tehreek-e-Insaaf is now withholding the results and altering Form 45," the party posted on X on Friday.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Friday urged political leaders and society segments to maintain a “calm atmosphere” as the results of the elections were being tabulated. "As Pakistan awaits the results of the elections, I encourage all political leaders and society segments to maintain a calm atmosphere," the Secretary-General said in a statement to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

Source: India Today