Modi congratulates Imran Khan, expresses hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan

The PTI, led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly after the July 25 elections.

New Delhi, July 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to Imran Khan whose party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the single largest party in the recently held general elections in Pakistan and congratulated him.

PM Modi, during his conversation with Imran Khan, expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan.

The PTI, led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly after the July 25 elections, but it is still short of numbers to form the government on its own.

According to the complete preliminary results announced by the ECP, the PTI has obtained 115 general seats - 12 short of a simple majority - while the PML-N and PPP have won 64 and 43 seats, respectively.

Pakistan's National Assembly comprises a total of 342 members, of which 272 are directly elected.

To meet the required number of votes, the PTI leadership has reportedly been approaching the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), PML-Quaid (PML-Q), and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), as well as independents.