Islamabad: Pakistan's ruling party on Tuesday conceded defeat in the general elections as the Opposition parties scored thumping wins that could threaten the rule of President Pervez Musharraf — America's close ally in the war on terror.
"We accept the results with an open heart and will sit on Opposition benches in the new Parliament,'' AP Television News quoted Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, as saying.
While final results of the elections are expected only late on Tuesday evening, early results and emerging trends suggested a stinging public verdict against Musharraf, whose popularity plummeted following his decisions late last year to impose emergency rule, purge the judiciary, jail political opponents and curtail press freedoms.
POWER PLAY BEGINS
New political equations are emerging in Pakistan as the results of the general election have started pouring in. In a major setback to Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff, the elections have thrown up a hung House with the two main Opposition parties emerging the main contenders to claim power in Islamabad.
PPP and PML-N have bagged a simple majority in the parliamentary elections, threatening the eight-year rule of President Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan's private Geo TV network said the two parties had together won 143 seats, more than half of the 272-seat National Assembly.
Elections were held for 269 seats and with results out for 228. Bhutto's Pakistan People's party has bagged 76 seats so far while PML (N) has won 67. The ruling PML(Q), Musharraf's main, ally suffered a humiliating defeat with just 34 seats.
Several of its stalwarts including former premier and party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former ministers Khurshid M Kasuri and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a close aide of Musharraf, were defeated by their PPP and PML-N opponents.
In the remaining seats, votes are still being to be tallied and process is likely to take all of Tuesday. A trend has, however, emerged from the available results. The results and trends available so far indicate big win for PML-N in Punjab while PPP is doing well in Sindh and Balochistan. MQM is also doing well in Sindh while Awami National Party is heading for a landslide in the North Western Frontier Province.
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The PML(N) and PPP are already holding talks in Islamabad to explore the possibility of forming a coalition government. PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari is already in Islamabad for the negotiations. Nawaz Sharif is expected to land in Islamabad later on Tuesday for the talks.
"A coailation of PML-N and PPP will form the government. We are meeting at the party HQ today to decide our future plans," Nawaz Sharif told CNN IBN on Tuesday morning. "Day after tomorrow, we are meeting PPP leaders in Islamabad. We are on the way to democracy and I am happy with the results," he said.
Sharif made it clear that his party was not keen on forming a government with the help of Independents. "PML-N wants to be the Opposition and may support PPP from outside," he indicated.
The two parties had a preliminary meeting last week but they still need to sort out certain isses like who is going to be the PM, what will they do to restore the judiciary and how are they going to deal with President Pervez Musharraf.
SUPPORT FOR ANTI-MUSH CAMP
Interestingly, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement or MQM — the party which had been supportive of Musharraf's policies and formed part of the erstwhile PML-Q alliance — has volunteered to support the PPP or PML-N. MQM has won 19 seats in the National Assembly so far.
The defeat of some of Musharraf's close associates has cornered the former general, but the President is claiming a victory that the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.
Political observers say Musharraf could face possible impeachment if the Opposition secures a two-thirds majority in the House and unites against him. He has, however, appealed to the parties to leave 'politics of confrontation'.
"I strongly believe that this politics of confrontation must give the way to politics of reconciliation, not in anyone's personal interest but in the interest of Pakistan," he said.
The former general, who doffed uniform last year under intense domestic and international pressure, said he was happy that he had fulfilled his pledge of holding free and fair poll.
(With AP inputs)
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