Former Cricketer Declared Winner in Pakistan Election

Cricket star Imran Khan, who promised supporters a "new" Pakistan, won the country's election but will have to seek out allies to form a coalition government, according to official results. Pakistan election officials Friday announced Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 109 of the 269 seats being contested in the National Assembly, the AP reports. The election Wednesday gave his nearest rival, Shahbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, 63 seats. Sharif, brother of jailed ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has rejected the results, charging widespread fraud and manipulation.

Khan declared his victory on Thursday and dismissed the allegations of fraud, calling it the most transparent election in Pakistan's history. He has promised to fight corruption and help millions of impoverished citizens. He says he also wants good relations with his neighbors and the United States, but also has leveled criticism against them. Once a celebrity playboy, Khan now embraces conservative Islamic stances and keeps company with radical clerics who often espouse a philosophy that frightens Pakistan's minorities. He calls for an Islamic welfare state that provides progress and education for the poor.

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