Pakistan elections prime ministers party did not win as many seats as expected
You're referring to the 2023 Pakistani general elections!
Yes, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, did not win as many seats as expected in the recent elections. According to the unofficial results, the PTI won around 61-65 seats in the National Assembly, which is short of the 100-120 seats that many had predicted.
The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), led by Shehbaz Sharif, emerged as the largest party, winning around 120-130 seats. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, won around 40-50 seats.
The unexpected outcome was attributed to several factors, including:
- Regional dynamics: The PTI's strongholds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab did not perform as well as expected, while the PML-N made significant gains in these provinces.
- Electoral strategy: The PTI's decision to contest the elections without a clear coalition partner and without a strong campaign in some key provinces may have contributed to their disappointing performance.
- Anti-PTI sentiment: The PTI's popularity had been declining in recent months due to various controversies and issues, which may have affected their electoral prospects.
- Electoral reforms: The introduction of new electoral reforms, such as the use of electronic voting machines, may have also played a role in the unexpected outcome.
The results have led to a hung parliament, with no single party having a clear majority. The PML-N is likely to form the government with the support of other parties, while the PTI is considering options to challenge the results or form a coalition government.