Army rejects allegations

Pakistan Army has categorically denied any direct or indirect interference in the general election 2018 to manipulate the results of the polls. An official of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) told Business Recorder that some foreign powers that are not happy with the peaceful democratic transition in Pakistan for the third consecutive time are behind the undue criticism on the polls results.
"Some international powers are trying to make the elections held on July 25 controversial for their vested interests, as they believe that Imran Khan is a hard nut to crack and cannot be blackmailed through one or another way," the official said.
He said the military tried its level best to ensure that the elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner for strengthening democracy in the country.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Qaumi Wattan Party (QWP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have rejected the results of July 25 general elections, alleging that the polls' results were manipulated to pave the way for PTI to come into the power.
A few parties have also raised questions on the deployment of 370,000 troops on the election day with magisterial powers at polling stations. The influence of Pakistan's security establishment is viewed as a bad sign in political affairs, referring to the general election 2018 as a soft coup as highlighted in the international media too.
According to the chief of European Union election observer mission Michael Gahler, there was a lack of equality of opportunity, but termed voting on the election day satisfactory and transparent. Gahler said that though there were several legal provisions aimed at ensuring a level playing field, "we have concluded that there was a lack of equality of opportunity."
He pointed out that candidates with large political appeal and financial means, the so-called electables, were reported to often dominate the campaign. "Uneven rules on campaign spending further undermined candidates' equal opportunity," he said. He also said that counting was somewhat problematic with staff not always following the procedures.
The Commonwealth Observer Group described Pakistan's general election as an 'important milestone' in the history of the nation, following two consecutive democratically-elected civilian governments completing their full terms.
Chairman former General Abdulsalami A Abubakar of Commonwealth Observers said, "The 2018 general election was an important milestone in strengthening democracy in Pakistan... We commend the voters, the Election Commission, polling staff, political parties, candidates, their agents, the security forces and all others for their respective roles."
Apart from this, the international media had claimed that the Pakistan military did not want PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to win the elections.