Pakistan: Musharraf Concedes Defeat
Updated:08:23, Tuesday February 19, 2008
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has conceded defeat in the country's election.
The chairman of the pro-Musharraf party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, told television reporters that "we accept the results with an open heart" and "will sit on opposition benches" in the new parliament.
Fears of vote rigging and violence have proved largely unfounded while international observers have so far endorsed the vote.
However, fears of bomb attacks have kept the turnout low.
Mr Musharraf took power in a 1999 coup but a hostile parliament of opposition MPs could try to remove him.
Sky News' foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall, in Islamabad, said: "A two-thirds majority is needed is needed in parliament to impeach the President.
"I don't think they'll get that, but Musharraf has been badly damaged."
The election was suspended in December after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
The party had been expected to benefit from a sympathy vote.
But unofficial Election Commission tallies show the other main opposition party, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, leading in Punjab province where half the members of parliament will be elected.
As results trickled out, groups of opposition supporters celebrated in the streets of Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
Mr Musharraf says he will work with whoever wins to build democracy in a country that has alternated between civilian and army rule throughout its 60-year history.
Pakistan is a key ally in the "war on terror" and the country's stability is crucial to the West.
I am glad that opposition won. Man, My dad was sitting here in front of the PC whole day long watching "Web Geo Tv" - Live coverage of the elections. Only now I had the chance to sit and browse. Ya, I am a "Paki" living in Malaysia.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
- Stephen Hawking
many people were predicting that the elections would be rigged and there would be wide spread violence, when it became obvious that they were rigged. people were even buying a week's worth of groceries to prepare for the worst.
and it hasn't happened! apparently no significant rigging and no violence.
now it remains to be seen what will happen next. will PPP and PML-N form a coalition government? will they restore the fired judges? will they impeach musharraf?
each man thinks of his own fleas as gazelles
question authority
Well I for one not that happy, PPP and PML-N, from person above didn't do anything great for the country regardless of anyone saying they didn't get charged or whatever.
When my mum had her land stolen from her none of the two parties did anything to help her and kept asking for money, what money did she have to give to bribery and how much was she meant to give?!?
But Musharraf had helplines for people to avoid the whole we haveto wait as we don't have enough to bribe officials policy and my mum now got all of her land back!
So yeah to Musharraf who actually did stuff for the country and the general population who act like idiots most of the time need to get their heads out of the sand and educate themselves on whos meant to rule, not because they have pretty words or a perstigious family but because they are going to do something for the country.
Just my opinion though as I know some people for their own reasons seem to like PPP and that lot.
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