After a tediously slow count, Pakistan election officials Friday announced political activist and former cricketer Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 109 of the 269 seats being contested in the National Assembly.

The election Wednesday gave his nearest rival, Shahbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League 63 seats. Sharif who heads the party 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 a fraud calling it the most transparent election in Pakistan's history.

Third place went to the left of centre Pakistan People's party with 39 seats. Results from 20 seats were still being counted.

It has been reported that the Pakistan Army virtually floated Milli Muslim League to erode the votes of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). This helped Imran Khan's PTI win many seats it might not have in a bipolar fight.

The Pakistan Army is against the Pakistan People's Party of Asif Ali Zardari as well. The Army considers him as difficult to manipulate as Sharif.

But these manipulations by the Pakistan Army in general and its spy agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in particular have made sworn mutual enemies PML(N) and PPP unite. They have both planned agitations across the country as well as disruptions in Parliament of Pakistan.

In the 272-seats strong parliament of that country, 137 seats are needed for a simple majority, but PTI has got a mere 109 seats.

In this scenario, the Army support for Imran Khan and his party becomes a critical factor to make his government with a slim majority survive.