“PTI as a party and political group, despite significant efforts by the civilian and military establishment, has held on to its vote bank,” AFP quotes Bilal Gilani, the executive director of polling group Gallup Pakistan, as saying.

“It shows that the military does not always get their way — that is the silver lining,” he told AFP.

Digital rights activist Usama Khilji said the mobile service blackout “strengthens the popular perception that the elections are rigged by the deep state”.