It’s curtains for the “King’s Party” – the PML (Q), President Musharraf’s political prop – which has all but lost its power base after key figures were felled in yesterday’s vote.The PPPP, (the Benazir Pakistan Peoples’ Party adds a P for Parliamentarians to distinguish it from separate Bhutto family member-run factions) has taken the National Assembly seat lead, with 86 announced at the time of reporting, followed by Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (N), currently at 65.
Schools and educational institutions remain closed for a second day while all election results are compiled. They await confirmation.
The Provincial trend commenced at the beginning of Monday evening has continued, with the PPPP taking Sindh, the PML (N) leading in Punjab, the PML (Q) with Balochistan, and, significantly, the moderate Awami National Party in the tribal North West Frontier Province, heartland of radicals, militants and Islamic extremists.
On Sindh, S.G.A. Shah – Party Province President for the PML (N) – told Coffee House today that since the PPPP have the most seats, the choice of candidate for Prime Minister lies with them.
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