By KUNA
Islamabad : The ninth general elections held in Pakistan on Monday proved to be a major blow to Musharrafs claim of enjoying support among masses as its allies and Islamists were shockingly defeated by former Prime Ministers parties.
Benazir Bhuttos Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Nawaz Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) are leading in their respective provinces of Sindh and Punjab. While, at the National Assembly level the two parties expectedly bagged major portion of the seats, hinting towards a formulation of coalition government. It may be mentioned here that the leadership of two parties Nawaz Sharif and his borther Shehbaz Sharif and Benazirs widower Asif Ali Zardari, now the co-chairman of PPP, did not participate in the elections. According to the official results, PPP has so far won 40 seats in the National Assembly and PML-N 39. While, PML-Q has won 21 seats, its allies Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 13 and six-party religious alliance Mutahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) could win only 2 seats. The ninth general elections for provincial and national assemblies were held in Pakistan on Monday. The voter turnout was as expected low but rumors of mass rigging proved to be false. Some political analysts, terming the election results as Musharrafs referendum, said that Mondays elections were most transparent, free and fair of all elections, being held in the country since independence.
PML-N central leader and former parliamentarian Muhammad Pervez Malik in a statement said that the success of his party is the success of the masses, and it will lead to the beginning of a new era of rule of law, and progress and prosperity in the country.
Some political circles were speculating that the dismissed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdary, may also be restored with Nawaz coming into power. Iftikhar is still under house arrest after he was suspended by Musharraf when he imposed emergency in the country in November.