By KUNA
Islamabad : After months of violence Pakistanis are enjoying peace which came after the successful holding of fair and transparent elections that turned losers into victors and gave Musharraf supporters tall defeat.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), now led by Benazir Bhuttos widower Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who was ousted and sent into exile by President Musharraf, and Awami National Party (ANP) were the main winners of Feb 18th general elections.
Ahead of elections, suicide bombings, high-security alert, soldiers kidnapping and small bomb explosions and firing incidents had become a routine.
Worsening security situation was one of the few reasons President Musharraf imposed emergency in the country in November last year.
However, post-election period is the most peaceful time, Pakistanis had enjoyed in last several months.
“It seems all bombings and firing and other kind of violence have been brought to a halt”, said Insaar Bazmi, a 46-year old resident of Islamabad. “We have not witnesses such peace and tranquility in last several months”, he added.
Economic prospects of the country have also started looking optimistic. A certain wave of optimism prevails in the traders and businessmen community.
The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 100 index rose to record 14981 points on Friday after days of losses since Benazir assassination while, Pakistani rupee had the biggest weekly gain in more than six years.
“Political uncertainty has been reduced after elections”, said an economist Dr. Qaes Aslam. Political certainty as well as security stability has allowed investors to focus on economic prospects, he said.
However, he added, how the new government will tackle all these issues and maintain this certainty is yet to see.