Confusion prevails in Pakistan following last week's general election. The ruling party claims victory, and now plans to put a former prime minister back in the hot seat. But a group of independents insist the reins of government belong to them.

Officials with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz say they've nominated Shehbaz Sharif as the country's next leader. He previously served as prime minister between April 2022 and August last year.

They claim a coalition formed with other parties secured the victory. But as a single entity, the PML-N only won 75 seats out of 265.

That's far below the 93 reportedly secured by a group of opposition candidates forced to run as independents.

They belong to jailed ex-premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which was banned from the election.

Party officials put out a statement saying the candidates actually won 180 seats, but half disappeared amid "brazen rigging".

There are now signs of public unrest. People took to the streets on Wednesday in the southwestern province of Balochistan.