Britain said it noted “serious concerns” over the voting process, while the United States said “claims of interference or fraud should be fully investigated”.
Acting Interior Minister Gohar Ijaz defended the “difficult decision” to suspend mobile phone services on security grounds.
“We were fully aware that the suspension of mobile services would impact the transmission of election results across Pakistan and delay the process, however, we had to choose between this delay and the safety of our citizens,” he said in a statement on Friday. It was absolutely straightforward.”
Digital rights activist Usama Khilji said the mobile service blackout “reinforces the popular perception that the elections were rigged by the deep state”.
Mohammad Zubair, a 19-year-old street vendor in Lahore, said PTI supporters would not accept PML-N’s victory.
“Everyone knows how many seats Khan’s independent candidates have won,” he said. “They have no emblem, no captain, no flag, or banner, and yet we have won on the field.”
Election day was also marred by violence, especially in border areas neighboring Afghanistan, with 61 attacks reported across the country, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.
At least 16 people were killed – including 10 security force members – and 54 were injured.