Vote and shut up!’ Pakistani voters told amid rigging claims

By Eman El-Shenawi - Al Arabiya
Courtesy: Al Arabia 

Courtesy: Al Arabia

As Pakistan underwent a whirlwind election day on Saturday, voters reeling from the outcome have revealed they were told to keep there “mouth shut” when they alleged vote rigging.

On Saturday night, the official results carried Pakistan Muslim League’s Nawaz Sharif to power, building up enough momentum to avoid having to form a coalition with his main rivals, former cricketer Imran Khan's Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

Sharif, so far winning 127 of the 272 National Assembly seats that were contested, celebrated with crowds of supporters as he gave his jubilant speech on Saturday night.

But lurking behind the shadows were boycotting parties and voters who had hoped patronage-based parties would end after years of corruption and misrule. Read full storry