Pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

The head of Pakistan’s armed forces called for “political maturity and unity” on Saturday after independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan won the most seats after his party was barred from taking part.

Independents won 100 of the 245 seats contested in the lower house of Parliament, according to provisional results declared by the election commission on Friday.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, considered to be the army’s favoured candidate, emerged as the biggest party with 71 seats.

Mr Sharif said on Friday that the PML-N would hold talks with other parties including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which won 54 seats, on forming a coalition government.

The results of 12 seats were still to be declared on Saturday.

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, addresses supporters in Lahore as votes in the general election were counted on Friday night. EPA

“Pakistan’s diverse polity and pluralism will be well-represented by a unified government of all democratic forces imbibed with national purpose,” army chief Gen Asim Munir said in a message of congratulations to all concerned.

The vote for parliament and four provincial assemblies on Thursday followed an election campaign marred by violence and was held amid an economic crisis and deep political polarisation after Khan was convicted in three cases a week earlier and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party barred from having members contest under its symbol, the cricket bat.

Pakistan now needs “stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 million”, Gen Munir said.

Mr Sharif and Khan both declared victory as the provisional results emerged on Friday.

Gen Munir called on political parties and their supporters to “rise above self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people”.

“As the people of Pakistan have reposed their combined trust in the Constitution of Pakistan, it is now incumbent upon all political parties to reciprocate the same with political maturity and unity.”

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A disabled man being taken to cast his vote in Peshawar, Pakistan. Musa Kamal for The National

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A Pakistan People’s Party awareness camp outside the polling station in Peshawar. Musa Kamal for The National

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A security guard on duty outside the polling station in Peshawar. Musa Kamal for The National

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Pakistan’s President Ariv Alvi casts his vote at a polling station in Karachi during parliamentary elections. AP

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Voters register at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf voting registration camp in Lahore, Pakistan. Getty Images

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Activists from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party outside a polling station in Islamabad. AFP

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Shehbaz Sharif, centre, former prime minister and president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz casts his ballot in Lahore. EPA

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who is leading a Commonwealth monitoring team, visits the Election Commission of Pakistan’s election monitoring control centre, where complaints are received and checked, in Rawalpindi. Reuters

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A Pakistani voter at a polling station in Wahgrian. Getty Images

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Women show their ink-stained thumbs after voting in Karachi. AP

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during Pakistan’s national elections. AFP

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Pakistani security officials guard a polling station in Lahore. EPA

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Pakistani soldiers patrol near polling stations in Karachi. EPA

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A Pakistani soldier stands guard outside a polling station in Karachi. EPA

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A voter in Karachi gets an ink mark on his thumb after casting his vote during the general election. Reuters

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A voter leaves the ballot booth in Karachi. Reuters

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Supporters of Saeed Anwar Mehsud, an independent candidate from South Waziristan, sit inside their campaign office in Dera Ismail Khan. Reuters

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Women wait outside a polling station for voting to begin in Lahore. Reuters

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

A polling officer sets up a polling station in Peshawar on the eve of the general election. EPA

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Relatives mourn the death of victims after a bomb blast outside the office of an independent candidate in Pishin district, about 50km from Quetta. AFP

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Officials collect evidence at the site of the bomb blast. AFP

pakistan's army chief calls for unity after inconclusive election

Election commission workers unload election materials at a distribution centre in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. EPA

The US, Britain and the European Union on Friday expressed concerns about the conduct of the election.

Mobile phone services were suspended before polling began in what authorities said was a security measure, while the election commission cited an “internet issue” for a delay in results being announced.

In response on Saturday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it was surprised by the “negative tone” of statements on the general election issued by “certain countries and organisations”.

These statements “neither take into account the complexity of the electoral process, nor acknowledge the free and enthusiastic exercise of the right to vote by tens of millions of Pakistanis”, it said.

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