Pakistani men read the newspapers in Rawalpindi on Sunday, a day after the general elections. Former Pakistani leader Nawaz Sharif appealed for cross-party support to help rebuild the nuclear-armed but economically crippled nation after winning historic elections that defied Taliban violence. Photo: AFP

 

Toppled in a 1999 military coup, jailed and exiled, Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif has made a triumphant election comeback and looks set to form a stable government capable of implementing reforms needed to rescue the fragile economy.

Almost certain to become prime minister for a third time, Sharif, 63, declared victory in a jubilant speech to supporters late on Saturday even as votes were still being counted.

Sharif may not win enough seats to rule on his own but has built up enough momentum to avoid having to form a coalition with his main rivals, former cricketer Imran Khan's Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

By midday on Sunday, Sharif's PML-N had captured 94 of the 272 contested National Assembly seats. Its tally is likely to end up at around 130, and it should easily be able to make up the required majority of 137 thanks to support from independents and small parties.

The PTI has secured 21 seats while the PPP won 19. The elections on Saturday were marred by pre-poll violence and attacks that killed at least 40 people by Islamic fundamentalists to block the voting. Voter turnout was a robust 60 percent.

Analysts describe Sharif as more cautious than during his previous two terms as prime minister in the 1990s.

In one sense, the polls were a democratic landmark, marking the first time one elected government was to replace another in a country vulnerable to military takeovers.

Sharif said the army, which has ruled the country for over 30 years, should stay out of politics.

But he will have to work with Pakistan's generals, who set foreign and security policy and will manage the country's thorny relationship with the US.

Sharif, who advocates free-market economics, is likely to pursue privatization and deregulation to revive flagging growth. But his main job will be to ease widespread discontent over endemic corruption, chronic power cuts and crumbling infrastructure. He has described Pakistan as a "mess" and said the key to moving forward is speedy growth.

Sharif will likely press for negotiation with the Pakistan wing of the Taliban, whose bombing attacks failed to derail the election, and may take steps to improve ties with Pakistan's arch-enemy, India.

Global Times - Reuters