Rediff On The NeT: Muslim League wave sweeps provincial polls too

Muslim League wave sweeps provincial polls too

Sheikh Manzoor Ahmed in Islamabad

The Pakistan Muslim League has bounced back to power in the Punjab province by securing two thirds of the majority and seems certain to form the government with the Awami National Party in the North West Frontier Province.

The party won 185 of the 210 seats, results for which were declared in the 248-member Punjab assembly. Independents won 15 seats while the Pakistan People's Party of Benazir Bhutto has been wiped out. It got only one seat.

In the Sindh province, the Mohajir Quami Movement of Altaf Hussain is ahead of the PPP, bagging as many as 20 seats. The PPP got only 17 seats and no political party has a majority required to form the government.

In Baluchistan also, no political party has got absolute majority and thus a coalition government is in the offing.

The Baluchistan National Party of Sardar Ataullah Mengal has emerged as the single largest party with 12 seats in the 43-member house.

In the NWFP Begum Naseem Wali Khan is expected to be the chief minister and her party in alliance with the Muslim League has got 52 seats in the 83-member provincial assembly.

The PPP got a meagre four seats for the province.

The PPP, which was the ruling party in Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP has lost in all these provinces.

In Punjab, Shabaz Sharif, brother of prospective prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, is a strong contender for the post of the chief minister, however, there are many other League stalwarts as aspirants for the coveted post.

Meanwhile, MQM leader Altaf Hussain expressed willingness to join the Muslim League government if asked. His joining the League government at the centre would pave the way for the league and the MQM to explore the possibility of forming a coalition government in Sindh, which has remained a PPP stronghold for years.

UNI

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