Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in May 11 elections surprised most political experts by clinching a thumping victory, mainly in Punjab, and is poised to form its government in the centre. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s activists celebrating their party’s thumping victory in Punjab and a majority in the centre to form the governments, following May 11 elections.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also impressed with an impressive performance especially in Khyber Pukhtunkhaw coming close to becoming the second largest party in the country and its activists rejoicing too out processions on G.T. Road and Khyber Road.
According to unconfirmed, unofficial results far PML-N has won 132 seats, while PTI trailing with 36 seats, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) 32, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) 12, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 13, Muslim League-Q (ML-Q) 1, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) 3 and independents bagged 24 seats. Awami National Party (ANP) couldn’t win a single seat so far.
Province-wise results show that ML-N leading in Punjab, PTI in Khyber Pukhtunkhaw, PPP in Sindh interior, MQM in Karachi and Hyderabad, while ANP has been washed out.
According to initial estimate of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) polling percentage remained within 60 to 70 percent-- a record in Pakistan’s democratic history.
Prominent among those winning the elections thus far are: ML-N Chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Javed hashmi, Shahbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Farooq Sattar, Shah Mahmood Quraishi, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Faisal Karim Kundi, Fazlur Rahman, Fahmeeda Mirza, Faryal Talpur, Khurshid Shah, Naveed Qamar, Nabeel Gabol, Jamshed Dasti, and Sumera Malik.
While former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali, former federal railway minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilor, Dr. Firdaus Awan, Amir Muqam, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chun, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Abdul Qadir Gilani, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Pervaiz Ellahi and several other stalwarts faced defeat in the elections.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also impressed with an impressive performance coming close to becoming the second largest party in the country.
While all the results were still to come in, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) appeared locked in a neck-to-neck battle with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for second position in the next parliament.
Mian Nawaz Sharif, in his victory speech, promised a clean and efficient government after his brother Mian Shahbaz Sharif declared that his brother would become the country’s prime minister for the third time.
According to unofficial results so far, PML-N President Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif won from Sargodha while he was in a comfortable position in his hometown Lahore. Similarly, Imran Khan of the PTI posted a thumping victory in Peshawar and his native town of Mianwali but the situation did not look so good for him in the NA constituencies of Lahore and Rawalpindi.
President Asif Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur, PTI’s Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Ch Pervaiz Elahi, Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, PTI-backed Sh Rashid Ahmad and former NA Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza are also among those who returned to the National Assembly as per the unofficial results.
In different incidents of violence in Peshawar, Karachi and Balochistan’s various areas, at least 18 persons were killed and over 50 injured. However, overall security situation was better than being widely speculated on the election day.
PML-N leadership, within five hours after the polling ended, has dropped hints of sitting together with all those in the arena to form a coalition government, including PTI of Imran Khan to deal with the deep-rooted gigantic problems, Pakistan faces today.
The polls saw the PPP being washed away from central Punjab by the PML-N and PTI sweeping Peshawar and even not sparing veteran Ghulam Ahmad Bilour.In view of a very encouraging turn-out, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) extended the time of polling from 5:00pm to 6:00pm while polling time was extended for three hours. The Commission hinted at a significant surge in turn-out in the 2013 elections.
Jamaat-e-Islami, Sunni Tehrik, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen boycotted the elections in Karachi, citing massive rigging while Jamhoori Watan Party also boycotted the elections due to similar reasons. There are hints that polling could be held again on four to five NA seats in Karachi.
Like in 2008 elections, again Maulana Fazlur Rehman finds himself in a comfortable position to strike a deal with the major stakeholders on formation of a coalition government not only in the Centre but also in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In view of voter trends, the PML-N is all set to form government in Punjab while the PTI can be in a position to lead a coalition set-up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Balochistan is in again for a split mandate among different parties, mainly JUI-Fazl, BNP-Mengal and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.
Election Commission is yet to announce official results, charged activists of PML-N, PTI and PPP have started celebrations in various cities and towns.
