Imran Khan allies call Pakistan-wide protests over alleged vote rigging

Influential leader Fazal ur Rehman's tilt toward PTI raises alarm for Sharif camp

Protesters demand free and fair elections in Jamshoro, in Pakistan's province of Sindh, on Feb. 16. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party has called for separate nationwide protests, as it claims recent elections were rigged. © Reuters

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writer

February 17, 2024 15:31 JST

ISLAMABAD -- The party of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan is stepping up protests against elections it claims were rigged, even drawing support from an influential ex-rival.

A coalition government led by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to take power in the coming days. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 75 seats in the Feb. 8 elections and has aligned with several parties including the Pakistan People's Party, which won 54.