Pakistan Election 2024 Results Live: Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif claim UK victory, US urges probe

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said “serious concerns” had been raised about the “lack of fairness and inclusiveness” of Pakistan's parliamentary elections.

“Authorities must uphold basic human rights, including free access to information and the rule of law,” Mr Cameron posted on X, praising all voters.

“We regret that not all parties were formally allowed to contest the elections, and that legal procedures were used to prevent some political leaders from participating and from using approved party symbols,” he said in a statement.

The foreign minister noted restrictions on internet access on polling day, as well as delays in declaring results and alleged irregularities in vote counting.

“The UK urges the authorities in Pakistan to uphold basic human rights, including free access to information and the rule of law,” he said.

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan claimed victory hours after rival Nawaz Sharif's victory.

In an audio-visual message created using artificial intelligence and shared on his social media account, Khan rejected Sharif's earlier claim of victory.

Khan called on his supporters to celebrate his party's victory despite what he called repression.

Independent candidates backed by Khan won more seats in Thursday's national election, despite his imprisonment and his party's ban from the polls.

Former Member of Parliament and National Democratic Movement (NDM) leader Mohsin Thawar has been hospitalized after being injured in a firing incident in Miransha, North Waziristan.

Dawar's party leader Bushra Gohar called for the firing and “arrest of the culprits”.

“I wanted to ask them to make arrangements to shift Dawar and others who were seriously injured to Peshawar,” he said.

Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari also posted on X that the incident was “absolutely reprehensible”.

US Congressman Ro Khanna has accused Pakistan's military of “rigging” the country's recent general elections to “give support” to its candidate.

The most important news since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947 comes from Pakistan today. Here's what happens. The army supported the current prime minister but most people in Pakistan voted for Imran Khan,” Mr Khanna said in a video shared on social media.

“The military is basically raging, at least that's the charge, interfering with the election results to prop up their military candidate,” he said, adding that the US should not recognize an “illegitimate government” in Pakistan.

In an early victory speech, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said he hoped to have “better relations with neighboring countries” after forming a new government.

“God willing, we will have better relations with our neighbours,” Mr Sharif said, appearing to be an implicit message to India.

“Our agenda will be to maintain better relations with the world and our neighbours…” he said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan is yet to officially announce the results, saying both candidates backed by Sharif and former prime minister Imran Khan won independently.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has condemned the bombings of campaign offices in Pakistan as parliamentary elections are underway.

“I strongly condemn the horrific bombings of election campaign offices in Balochistan and offer my condolences to the victims and their families. These attacks must be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable,” Senator Ben Cardin, the committee's chairman, said in a statement.

“While I applaud those in Pakistan who voted in the electoral process this week, these long-delayed elections were sadly overshadowed by actions that prevented meaningful participation by all political parties and candidates,” he said.

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have been granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in several cases related to the May 9 riots.

A Rawalpindi court said there was no reason to remand Khan as all the accused in the case had been granted bail.

Independent candidates linked to Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have topped the general election despite several setbacks, including the loss of their election symbol, the cricket bat, and the detention of key party leaders.

However, the election did not emerge a clear winner, with both Mr Khan and trailing candidate former prime minister Nawaz Sharif keen to form a coalition government.

Pakistan's foreign office said it was “surprised by the negative tone” of some countries and organizations regarding the general elections.

“These statements ignore the indisputable fact that Pakistan conducted peaceful and successful general elections while dealing with serious security threats resulting from foreign-sponsored terrorism,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

“While we value the constructive suggestions of our friends, it is neither constructive nor objective to make negative comments before the electoral process is over,” it added.

A wave of protests erupted in Pakistan's Balochistan after early unofficial results, which some candidates celebrated as victories, were overturned the next day.

According to the official results announced in the province, the previously “winning” candidates fell to second and third places.

This led to almost all major political parties – including the PPP and PML-N – staging sit-ins, Dawn reported.

“All political parties were not allowed to compete,” the Australian government said, saying it was “sad” that Pakistanis had restricted their choice in the election.

“Australia supports a democratic, stable and prosperous Pakistan that upholds its commitment to democratic principles, including human rights, freedom of the media, freedom of expression and freedom of association,” the government said in a statement.

However, the country welcomed the increase in voter turnout and the number of women registered to vote in Pakistan's general election.