Posts Tagged ‘PPP’

Musharraf’s rivals win election: unofficial results

President Pervez Musharraf’s opponents won a big election victory on Tuesday after voters rejected his former ruling party, raising questions about the future of the US ally who has ruled since 1999.

Counting was continuing with results still awaited in less than 20 seats, but no party was expected to win a majority in the 342-seat National Assembly.

The opposition parties Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appeared to have won enough to command a majority, according to unofficial results. But there is no certainty that they will work together.

The pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League was trailing a distant third, and the party’s spokesman conceded defeat but kept open the possibility of joining a coalition.

“Obviously, the nation has spoken through the ballot. We couldn’t convince them. They have rejected our policies and we have accepted their verdict.” PML’s Tariq Azim Khan.

“For the best interest of the country, we’re willing to cooperate and work with anybody.”

As of 3.30 pm. (1030 GMT), unofficial results for 252 seats showed PPP had won 86 and PML-N had 65.

The pro-Musharraf PML trailed with 37. Small parties and independents shared the others.

A few seats weren’t contested, while 70 seats reserved for women and religious minorities will be divided up proportionately among parties according to the number of seats they’ve won.

Musharraf has said he would accept the results and work with whoever won to build democracy in a country that has alternated between civilian and army rule throughout its 60-year history.

DECISIVE FACTOR

Groups of happy opposition supporters celebrated in the streets in cities across the country as results trickled out.

Some analysts said reasons for PML’s defeat ranged from Musharraf’s unpopularity to resentment over inflation, food shortages and power cuts.

Nawaz-Zardari alliance won’t be able to form govt : Durrani

Former Federal Information Minister and PML-Q leader Muhammad Ali Durrani has said that the PPP and PML-N alliance will not be able to form the next government.

“I am very sure that Nawaz-Zardari alliance, even if they are together, won’t be in a position to form the government in centre.” - Talking to a private TV channel Muhammad Ali Durrani.

PML-Q and coalition parties along with few other coalition partners will definitely form the government in centre and provinces.

He said the announcement of movement against elections by the Nawaz-Zardari alliance shows that they are having straight written on the wall that they are going to fail in the elections.

About the assassination of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, Durrani said actually it was a sad incident and there is a sympathy wave but the PPP led by Zardari may not get the sympathy vote.

To a question he said that nobody should be allowed to rig the elections.

“We want free, fair, transparent and peaceful election in Pakistan and it is the responsibility of the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan.” - Durrani.

Bhutto’s son to lead her party

Benazir Bhutto’s 19-year-old son Bilawal appointed leader of her party and her husband Asif Ali Zardary will be the co-chairman, party officials say.

Some party members are concerned about Bilawal’s young age and his political inexperience and hence the party advisors will be leading the party until he finishes his studies.

PPP’s boycott of elections and the voilence following the assassination could threaten the process of elections and hence leading to the prolonging of the caretaker government.

Their have been reports of suicide bombing near the house of a leader of PML-Q and burning of election offices in sindh.

PPP to nominate new chief today

An important meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will be held on Sunday (today) at the Larkana residence of life former chairperson Benazir Bhutto to chalk out the future line of action of the party regarding the general election as well as the nomination of the party chief.

The urgent meeting was summoned on Friday after the burial of Benazir and all CEC members and party office-bearers were asked to stay in Larkana till the meeting, to be held after the Soyem of the party chairperson.

Sources said there was no proper agenda for the meeting but the nomination of the party leadership and the election would be the main issues. Makhdoom Amin Fahim, senior vice chairman of the PPP, will preside over the CEC meeting. The party leaders were already busy in informal discussions about their future party leader.