PPP and PML-N emerge victorious, to form a coalition government;PPP’s Fahim likely to be the new Prime Minister; US reiterates Musharraf’s role in the new government
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  • In the general elections held on February 18, the PPP won 88 and the PML-N 65 out of the total of 268 seats that were contested. The results inflicted a crushing defeat on PML-Q backed by President Musharraf.1 Reports stated that talks were still on for the formation of a coalition government comprising of the PPP and PML-N, which would also likely include the Awami National Party (ANP).2 The PPP on its part endorsed Makhdoom Amin Fahim as its prime ministerial candidate on February 22. The party also took a stand that the newly elected National Assembly would take a decision on the issue of deposed judges. 3

    The election process which was otherwise peaceful claimed the lives of at least 19 people and injured 157.4 Nevertheless, the Commonwealth Secretary General Don Mckinnon, in a message to the Secretary of the Election commission in Pakistan welcomed the conduct of the elections and acknowledged that they were ‘fair and peaceful’.5

    US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher on his part asserted that Washington still backed a strong role for President Musharraf in the new government.6 The American and British envoys in Islamabad also met with members of the PPP and the PML-N on February 22 and discussed issues relating to the formation of a government.7

    Meanwhile, efforts were initiated in the troubled area of North Waziristan to restore a controversial peace deal which was earlier criticized as being lenient to the demands of the militants. The decision to this effect was taken after the authorities and the tribal leaders reached a consensus in a meeting at agency headquarters in Miramshah on February 24.8

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