Pakistan Election 2018: Imran Khan declares victory as rivals decry 'rigging'

Khan's supporters celebrate outside his residence in Islamabad after the former cricketer declared victory - REUTERS
Khan's supporters celebrate outside his residence in Islamabad after the former cricketer declared victory - REUTERS

Imran Khan declared victory in Pakistan's rancorous general election on Thursday as rivals alleged he had benefited from widespread vote rigging.

The cricketer-turned-opposition politician appeared set to be prime minister after unofficial forecasts gave him a commanding lead.

The 65-year-old given the nicknamed 'Captain' by supporters looked just short of a full majority, but was expected to find small coalition partners easily and declared he had been given a popular mandate.

In a speech broadcast from his Bani Gala estate outside Islamabad, he restated his populist promises, vowing a new Pakistan where he would crackdown on corruption and build an Islamic welfare state.

However there were fears last night of political paralysis, or even violence after his unexpectedly strong performance at the polls was rejected by rival parties.

Khan declared victory in a televised speech on Thursday afternoon - Credit: REUTERS
Khan declared victory in a televised speech on Thursday afternoon Credit: REUTERS

The Pakistan Muslim League party of jailed prime minister Nawaz Sharif said the result was based on “massive rigging” that “will cause irreparable damage to the country”.

Mr Khan said he was prepared to cooperate in any investigation into vote fraud, but claimed the poll had been “the cleanest elections in Pakistan's history".

Reaching out to his country's arch rival, he said he wanted talks with India to resolve their simmering dispute over Kashmir.

He said the Indian media had made him feel like a Bollywood villain but "if India takes one step towards us, we will take two steps towards them”.

Imran Khan has had to be very flexible indeed on his long climb to power in Pakistan

He went on: “Right now, it is one-sided where India is constantly just blaming us."

"The leadership of Pakistan and India now need to come to the table to resolve this and end blame games. We are stuck at square one.”

He said he wanted peace in Afghanistan and “mutually beneficial” relations with then US, which he has often berated for its foreign policy in the region.

The cricketer-turned-politician who began his political struggle 22 years ago added, "God has given me the chance to make my dream come true."

Imran Khan interview

Supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (Pakistan Justice Movement) party had been celebrating all day and gathered outside his hill-top estate as the day wore on.

“ I haven't slept all night, I am so excited” said 27-year-old Khurram Shahzad. “He is an honest man and a great man. He will be the greatest leader we have had in our history.”

Mr Khan's election marks the end of a long transformation from night-clubbing sportsman to a conservative, nationalist leader of the world's sixth most populous nation.

His declaration in the mid -1990s that he would trade his sporting popularity for the brutal world of Pakistan's politics caused scorn at the time and he spent years at the political margins.

Shahbaz Sharif shows a document as he speaks during a press conference at his political office in Lahore - Credit: AFP
Shahbaz Sharif shows a document as he speaks during a press conference at his political office in Lahore Credit: AFP

His former wife, Jemima Goldsmith, yesterday added her congratulations, but appeared to offer a warning that he must not become corrupted by power.

She said his victory followed 22-years of "humiliations, hurdles and sacrifices”.

"It's an incredible lesson in tenacity, belief and refusal to accept defeat. The challenge now is to remember why he entered politics in the first place."

 suicide bomber struck outside a crowded polling station in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta - Credit:  Arshad Butt/ AP
The suicide bomber struck outside a crowded polling station in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta Credit: Arshad Butt/ AP

European Union poll monitors are on Friday due to give their verdict on whether polling was free and fair. The military establishment which has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly for much of its history has been accused of sabotaging rivals to favour Mr Khan.

Shahbaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) since his brother Nawaz was ousted and jailed, said voting had seen “outright rigging and the results based on massive rigging will cause irreparable damage to the country.“

His party would use “all political and legal options for redressal of these glaring excesses,” he vowed.