Pakistan's Khan in coalition with small party, independents

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan's likely new prime minister Imran Khan has opened a new coalition of independent politicians on Saturday, according to spokesman, following the announcement of the full results of an election disputed by rivals.

Khan's party scooped up 16.86 million votes in a better-than-expected performance, trouncing the party of jailed forming Nawaz Sharif, which finished second with 12.89 million votes.

But the 116 seats won by Khan's lawmakers were not enough to give him a majority in the 272-seat National Assembly without coalition partners, and he has ruled out both parties.

Officials from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), or Pakistan Movement for Justice Party, said they were in talks with independent candidates and at least one other political party to form a coalition government.

"We are pretty much in the National Assembly … talks are going on with MQM as well," Faisal Javed Khan, a senior PTI spokesman, told Reuters.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has dominated politics in the port of Karachi for decades, and won six seats in the general election after the party split with its longtime leader, Altaf Hussain.

He added that August 14, which is Pakistan's independence day.

In a news conference, Naeem Ul Haq, a spokesman for PTI, told reporters that the party would form a government in Pakistan's most populous province of Punjab and would "good news" by Sunday.

DELAYS

The Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. Some of the smaller religious parties are threatening street protests if the poll is not re-run.

Khan has offered to investigate any claims of irregularities in the wake of the war, which has been shamed by Pakistan's powerful military.

European Union observers were critical of the political climate in the run up to the vote, saying there was a level playing field. The United States voiced similar concerns.

Khan's 116 seats for a multi-party coalition, which is required for a multi-party coalition with religious parties and independents to form a government.

Two newly formed small parties are seen to be open to an alliance with Khan's PTI.

The Great Democratic Alliance (GDA), a new alliance in southern Sindh province, has two seats.

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), another new party formed by Baluchistan province, picked up four seats.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday released results for 270 races, with elections in two seats postponed. Several races have been recounted so the final numbers may change.

The arithmetic coalition is one of the most noticeable minorities in the world. Once these seats are added, any coalition will need at least 172 seats.