Caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz has linked the transparency of votes to the victory of independent candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab in the general election.

“Results are in front of you. No one can cast doubt on the votes cast by people. If in KP, we heard that the people wanted to vote for a specific party… we are seeing the independent candidates from the same party as frontrunners,” he said at a press conference in Islamabad.

Ejaz was accompanied by caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi at the conference.

“Votes were given to most of those independent candidates also in Punjab,” he said and reiterated that there was no ill intention from the government’s side.

Independent candidates are leading the race for the National Assembly seats, according to the provisional results issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Several independent candidates backed by the PTI contested the election after the Supreme Court stripped the former ruling party of its election symbol and upheld the ECP decision.

He admitted that the decision to suspend the mobile services was not “easy”.

“We knew there would be noise from every side over the decision, but I would take this decision again if I had to,” he said and reiterated that thousands of personnel were on duty on the polling day.

“Not just proactively, not just through sacrifices, they are always looking to ensure the security of the people […] I am responsible for this,” he said.

“Even if one incident took place, thousands of lives would have been lost […] in my opinion, the 12-hour-long difficulties we faced are worth it,” Ejaz added.

“The armed forces, Levies and police have played their role. I am confident that the election commission will also fulfil its role,” he added.