Pakistan election: Sharif edges closer to majority

Nawaz Sharif appears on course to secure a majority in Pakistan’s parliament and form the next government after claiming victory in Saturday’s election,according to BBC.

Unofficial results suggest his Pakistan Muslim League has won easily, though he has reportedly opened talks with independents to guarantee a majority.

He has already been congratulated by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mr Sharif is set to become prime minister for the third time.

Former cricketer Imran Khan, whose Movement for Justice Party (PTI) is in a close fight for second place, has promised to provide genuine opposition.

  Nawaz Sharif has a record of delivering high-profile infrastructure projects. This time he is promising a bullet train between Karachi and Peshawar.”

Analysts say Mr Sharif, 63, is in a far stronger position than the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) which led a weak coalition often on the verge of collapse.

The PPP of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto appears to have been badly beaten in the election. It was one of several secular parties unable to campaign freely due to Taliban attacks.

Pakistani media say Mr Sharif’s PML-N has so far captured well over 100 seats with the PTI and the PPP on around 30 each.

Analysts said the PML-N was likely to get around 130 seats and should be able to make up the required majority of 137 with support from independents and small parties.

Once it achieves a majority, Mr Sharif’s party would be allocated a majority of 70 other parliamentary seats reserved for women and minorities.

An election commission spokesman said turnout had been around 60%. In 2008 it was 44%.

The election appears to have paved the way for the first transition from one elected government to another in a country prone to military takeovers.

Mr Sharif – who was toppled in a military coup in 1999 and spent years in exile – spent Sunday in talks on forming a government.

Imran Khan, still bedridden after a fall at a campaign rally, said the election would boost Pakistan’s young democracy.

During his election campaign, Mr Sharif said he would end Pakistan’s involvement in the US-led war on terror.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped for a “new course” in relations between India and Pakistan.

“PM extends his congratulations to Mr Nawaz Sharif and his party for their emphatic victory in Pakistan’s elections,” he said on his Twitter account.

He invited Mr Sharif to go to India “at a mutually convenient time”.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he hoped for co-operation to root out what he called terrorist sanctuaries.

Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in a long battle with Taliban Islamist militants.

R.S