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Jailed former premier Imran Khan’s party-backed independent candidates seemed to have sprung a surprise as the results of the general elections in Pakistan started trickling in on Friday following unusual delays, leading to allegations of rigging. Votes are being counted in Pakistan after Thursday’s general election which was marred by allegations of rigging, sporadic violence and a countrywide mobile phone shutdown.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan claimed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s victory in the Pakistan elections. 

Pakistani authorities were moving at a snail’s pace on Friday to announce the election results that in a surprising development showed disqualified and jailed ex-Prime Minister Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supported independent candidates leading the show.

Khan, 71, a cricketer-turned-politician and the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is behind bars and barred from contesting.

PTI candidates are running as independents after they were not allowed to use the party symbol – a cricket bat.