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| Musharraf's foes triumph at polls | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The main party backing President Pervez Musharraf has admitted defeat in Pakistan's elections. | The main party backing President Pervez Musharraf has admitted defeat in Pakistan's elections. |
| The two main opposition parties, the PPP of late PM Benazir Bhutto and the PML-N, led by another former PM, Nawaz Sharif, have a clear majority. | The two main opposition parties, the PPP of late PM Benazir Bhutto and the PML-N, led by another former PM, Nawaz Sharif, have a clear majority. |
| If they form a coalition with a two-thirds majority in parliament they could impeach Mr Musharraf. | If they form a coalition with a two-thirds majority in parliament they could impeach Mr Musharraf. |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf has never looked weaker than he does today. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf has never looked weaker than he does today. |
| The full scale of the defeat inflicted on the pro-Musharraf PML-Q will become clearer during Tuesday as more results come in. | The full scale of the defeat inflicted on the pro-Musharraf PML-Q will become clearer during Tuesday as more results come in. |
| NATIONAL RESULTS SO FAR PPP (Bhutto's party) : 87PML-N (Nawaz Sharif): 66PML-Q: (pro-Musharraf) 38MQM (Sindh-based): 19ANP (Secular Pashtuns): 10Others: 38 Source: Geo TV | |
| Whether the PPP and the PML-N decide to work together in a coalition remains to be seen. Our correspondent says there is a great deal of political bargaining to come. | Whether the PPP and the PML-N decide to work together in a coalition remains to be seen. Our correspondent says there is a great deal of political bargaining to come. |
| Unofficial and provisional results show big gains for Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto's parties. | Unofficial and provisional results show big gains for Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto's parties. |
| According to the website of the Geo private TV station, the PPP leads the tally with 87 seats, with the PML-N following with 66 seats. | |
| This gives the two opposition parties a combined total of 153 seats in the parliament with some seats still to be declared. | |
| PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that he hoped to work with other opposition parties to rid Pakistan of what he described as a dictatorship. | PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that he hoped to work with other opposition parties to rid Pakistan of what he described as a dictatorship. |
| Whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself President Musharraf Analysis: Musharraf reelingPakistani press upbeat | Whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself President Musharraf Analysis: Musharraf reelingPakistani press upbeat |
| The pro-Musharraf PML-Q was a distant third, with 38 seats. | |
| The chairman of the pro-Musharraf PML-Q party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, told Associated Press Television News his party accepted the results "with an open heart" and was prepared to "sit on opposition benches". | The chairman of the pro-Musharraf PML-Q party, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, told Associated Press Television News his party accepted the results "with an open heart" and was prepared to "sit on opposition benches". |
| Several notable ministers in the government had lost their seats, while dramatic gains were made by some smaller parties. | Several notable ministers in the government had lost their seats, while dramatic gains were made by some smaller parties. |
| In the North West Frontier Province, the Awami National Party, which campaigns for Pashtun nationalism, has defeated the Islamist incumbents. | In the North West Frontier Province, the Awami National Party, which campaigns for Pashtun nationalism, has defeated the Islamist incumbents. |
| Most official counts will not be declared until later on Tuesday. | Most official counts will not be declared until later on Tuesday. |
| Nawaz Sharif's supporters are also delighted by the result Pakistanis react to poll trendsIn pictures: Ballot count | Nawaz Sharif's supporters are also delighted by the result Pakistanis react to poll trendsIn pictures: Ballot count |
| Speaking earlier, Mr Musharraf had said: "The result will be the voice of the nation and whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself," said Mr Musharraf. | Speaking earlier, Mr Musharraf had said: "The result will be the voice of the nation and whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself," said Mr Musharraf. |
| Though he did not stand in the parliamentary election himself, correspondents say the clear defeat of his supporters has made his position more precarious. | Though he did not stand in the parliamentary election himself, correspondents say the clear defeat of his supporters has made his position more precarious. |
| President Musharraf has been a major US ally in the "war on terror" but his popularity has waned at home amid accusations of authoritarianism and incompetence. | President Musharraf has been a major US ally in the "war on terror" but his popularity has waned at home amid accusations of authoritarianism and incompetence. |
| His forces have been trying to contain a Taleban-influenced Islamist insurgency along the country's rugged frontier with Afghanistan. | His forces have been trying to contain a Taleban-influenced Islamist insurgency along the country's rugged frontier with Afghanistan. |
| The election has been preceded by months of violence, including the suicide attack that killed PPP leader, Ms Bhutto, in December. | The election has been preceded by months of violence, including the suicide attack that killed PPP leader, Ms Bhutto, in December. |
| The poll was initially scheduled for early January but was delayed after her assassination. | The poll was initially scheduled for early January but was delayed after her assassination. |
| Democratic mandate | Democratic mandate |
| Supporters of the PPP and PML-N were celebrating in the streets on Tuesday. | Supporters of the PPP and PML-N were celebrating in the streets on Tuesday. |
| Leaders of both opposition parties had earlier warned the polls would be rigged in favour of the government. | Leaders of both opposition parties had earlier warned the polls would be rigged in favour of the government. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI hope that this election is a positive step towards democracy, peace and economical growthAtif Majid, KuwaitSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI hope that this election is a positive step towards democracy, peace and economical growthAtif Majid, KuwaitSend us your comments |
| The next government will have to decide how it chooses to work with a president who has never had much time for politicians with broad popular support, our correspondent says. | The next government will have to decide how it chooses to work with a president who has never had much time for politicians with broad popular support, our correspondent says. |
| Pakistani newspapers spoke of a "rout" of Mr Musharraf's allies, with The News proclaiming: "Democracy takes revenge." | Pakistani newspapers spoke of a "rout" of Mr Musharraf's allies, with The News proclaiming: "Democracy takes revenge." |
| Mr Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. | Mr Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. |
| International pressure forced him to step down as army chief last year and the parliamentary election has been viewed as a key milestone along Pakistan's path from military to civilian rule. | International pressure forced him to step down as army chief last year and the parliamentary election has been viewed as a key milestone along Pakistan's path from military to civilian rule. |
| Fear of violence | Fear of violence |
| Celebrations broke out on the streets of cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi as news of the results trickled out. | Celebrations broke out on the streets of cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi as news of the results trickled out. |
| At least 20 people are reported to have died in election-day violence, with the PPP reporting 15 of its members killed. | At least 20 people are reported to have died in election-day violence, with the PPP reporting 15 of its members killed. |
| There were also reports of missing ballot boxes. | There were also reports of missing ballot boxes. |
| But there was also widespread relief that there were none of the major bomb attacks which had marred the run-up to the election. | But there was also widespread relief that there were none of the major bomb attacks which had marred the run-up to the election. |
| Fears of violence had dissuaded many of the country's 80 million eligible voters from leaving their homes, and voter turnout was estimated to be less than 40%. | Fears of violence had dissuaded many of the country's 80 million eligible voters from leaving their homes, and voter turnout was estimated to be less than 40%. |
| Close to half a million security personnel, including about 80,000 soldiers, had been deployed to quell any outbreak of violence. | Close to half a million security personnel, including about 80,000 soldiers, had been deployed to quell any outbreak of violence. |