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Huge turnout for Pakistan polls – but parties protest at threats and violence 'Lion of Pakistan' roars back to power in election overshadowed by violence
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistanis were given an extra hour to cast their ballots on Saturday after large numbers of voters swarmed to polling stations in a general election that many once feared would never take place. Fourteen years after being overthrown by a military dictator and sent into exile, the former prime minister of Pakistan known to his supporters as the "Lion" has claimed victory in one of most dramatic general elections in the country's history.
But the major test of the country's democracy, as it marks its first transition from one civilian government to another following repeated spells of military rule, was also marred by violence that killed 22 people and rampant vote rigging in the country's biggest city. Nawaz Sharif was on course to become the next prime minister of the troubled country facing multiple crises after it became clear he had secured a commanding lead in votes despite the challenge from Imran Khan, the former cricketer who had waged a ground-breaking campaign credited with galvanising an army of young people.
A turnout described by election officials as "huge" in the critical battleground of Punjab province raised hopes among supporters of Imran Khan that the former cricket star's Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) would enter parliament with a sizeable haul of seats for the first time. Although the final result was still hours away, the country's television networks projected Sharif heading for an ultimately tally of around 110 parliamentary seats, comfortably on course to secure the parliamentary majority he said he desperately needed to fix Pakistan's ailing economy.
Politicians had begun crying foul even before the counting started in the 70,000 polling stations nationwide, particularly in the volatile port city of Karachi where a number of parties announced they would withdraw in protest. The PTI complained of blatant efforts to intimidate voters in Defence and Clifton, two affluent neighbourhoods where Khan has a devoted following. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appeared to be headed for a final tally of around 35 seats, in line with the expectations of many analysts, but far below the stratospheric expectations of his followers who had been repeatedly promised a "tsunami" that would sweep away the country's established parties.
There were reports of people being threatened as they attempted to go to vote and one case of gunmen shooting up a polling station. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples party (PPP), which is wildly unpopular after five years in government, was battered at the polls, and was set to secure around 35 seats, most of them in its traditional rural strongholds in Sindh province.
Voting was also hampered by election staff who said they had not received the proper equipment or simply sent people away before they had cast their vote. Sharif emerged on to the balcony of the Lahore headquarters of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party (PML-N) well before midnight to talk to his delirious supporters, who cheered and waved the green flags of the party.
Sana Bilal, a 28-year-old PTI supporter, said her polling station in a school in the upmarket Defence neighbourhood, never even opened. He said he was prepared to work with all other parties to try to fix the country's many problems. "We want to change the destiny of the country and fulfil the promises we made to the nation during the election campaign," he said.
"There were people who have been waiting outside since 8am [the official start of polling nationwide]," she said. "It was a sea of PTI supporters. But they kept changing their excuses saying they didn't have ballot papers, or there weren't enough people to monitor the election. Everyone is really angry that we've been deprived of our right to vote." While PML-N supporters erupted in noisy celebration across Lahore many PTI supporters reacted angrily to their disappointing result, with some beating cricket bats – the symbol of the party – on one of the city's main boulevards.
The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), the dominant political party in the city, was immediately blamed for attempting to suppress voting in an attempt to prevent the PTI eating into their territory. The MQM itself said it would boycott the results in Lyari, a stronghold of a rival party it was never likely to win. One gain for Khan was the leading position the party gained in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province close to the troubled frontier with Afghanistan, where the PTI could become a leading partner in a coalition government.
The nation election commission admitted that it had failed to hold free and fair election in the country's commercial hub and fresh balloting would be held in 40 polling stations in the worst affected areas. However, given the province's acute problems and struggle with Taliban militancy, it might prove a mixed blessing for a party that has never come close to governing anything in its history.
In affluent districts of Lahore, where PTI supporters were out in force brandishing cricket bats – the party's symbol – there were similar complaints. Merely having an election is regarded as a major achievement for Pakistan and a huge milestone in its efforts to strengthen democracy. It is the first time in its history that one elected government has handed power to another. However, despite a strong turnout, which in the critical battleground of Punjab was described as "huge" by election officials, the day was also marred by violence that killed 22 people and vote-rigging in the country's biggest city.
"In all the posh areas they started polling late and have tried to stop people voting by making excuses to go slow," said Younis Javed, a retired colonel who said he was supporting the PTI because Pakistan needed fresh leadership. "They do these things to us because they know we are educated and want to see change." Politicians began crying foul even before counting began in the 70,000 polling stations throughout the huge country, particularly in the volatile port city of Karachi where a number of parties announced they would withdraw from the contest in protest.
In multiple polling stations people complained of being forced to queue for up to five hours before being able to vote. Officials argued polling stations were simply overwhelmed by the huge number of people and the cumbersome procedure for issuing ballot papers. The PTI in particular complained of blatant efforts to intimidate voters in Defence and Clifton, two affluent neighbourhoods where Khan has a devoted following. There were reports of people being threatened as they attempted to go to vote and one case of gunmen opening fire at a polling station.
It is thought that high turnout will benefit Khan, with young first-time voters more likely to support him than his main rival, Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who leads his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). Sana Bilal, a 28-year-old PTI supporter, said her polling station located in a school in the Defence neighbourhood never even opened. "There were people who have been waiting outside since 8am [the official start of polling nationwide]," she said. "It was a sea of PTI supporters. Everyone is just really angry that we've been deprived of our right to vote."
Strong support for the PTI was in evidence nearly everywhere in the city, after Khan gained momentum in the closing week of the campaign. But it was clear the PML-N was putting up a stiff defence in a province where the party has been in local government for the past five years and gained a reputation for getting things done. In one polling station, election observers from both parties agreed the votes were split 50-50. The Muttahida Quami Movement, the dominant political party in the city, was immediately blamed for attempting to suppress voting in an attempt to prevent the PTI eating into its territory.
In the Lahore constituency that Khan is contesting, it was clear deep support remains for his PML-N opponent and old schoolfriend, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Sadiq remains popular and in some areas enjoys very solid support from his personal biradari – the clan networks Khan has urged voters to ignore when they cast their votes. "I will vote for Sadiq because we have respect for our elders," said Usman Jamil, a 23-year-old office worker. "This system is very strong in Pakistan and we must respect it." Pakistan had been bracing for violence after the Taliban vowed to use suicide bombers to disrupt a democratic process the extremist movement regards as un-Islamic. The government deployed 600,000 security personnel in an effort to protect the vote.
Pakistan had been bracing for violence after the Taliban vowed to use suicide bombers to disrupt a democratic process the extremists regard as un-Islamic. The government deployed 600,000 security personnel to protect the vote. Many voters took the threat seriously, circulating tips on social media that included remaining watchful for any abandoned packages and not being afraid to sound the alarm. Many voters took the threat seriously, circulating election day tips on social media that included remaining watchful for any abandoned packages.
At least 22 people were killed nationwide in a series of attacks, including by bombs placed near polling stations in the restive north west of the country. Some 22 people were killed nationwide in a series of attacks, some by bombs placed near polling stations in the restive north-west of the country.
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