Sharif claims victory in Pakistan elections

 

Former prime minister declares victory shortly after polls close in historic elections marred by violence.

Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif has declared victory in the country's general elections as preliminary results showed a clear lead for his party, making it almost certain that he will become prime minister for a third time.

Turnout in Saturday's vote was nearly 60 percent, the election commission said, which according to official statistics is the highest since 1977.

The election will bring the first transition between civilian governments in a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half of its turbulent history.

Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), thanked his supporters as he addressed a crowd of about 300 people at his campaign headquarters in Lahore.

“Through this vote and campaign I have felt how much love Pakistan has for me. And I have twice as much love for you,” he told his supporters.

“Thank God that he has given us the chance to help you, to help Pakistan, to help the young people. We will fulfil all the promises that we have made.”

Series of attacks

The run-up to the election was marred by a series of attacks targeting politicians and their supporters.

Twenty-nine people were reportedly killed across the country on Saturday, but voting proceeded peacefully at a majority of the 70,000 polling stations.

The Pakistani Taliban had vowed to disrupt the elections and claimed responsibility for several of the attacks during the campaign.
In North Waziristan, a notorious Taliban stronghold, mosque loudspeakers announced that no woman would be allowed to leave their home to vote, according to local residents. Women's turnout is traditionally low in conservative areas.
In Pakistan's financial hub Karachi, voting was marred by allegations of rigging from rival parties, and the election commission ordered a re-vote in 40 polling stations in one constituency over accusations of ballot stuffing.