The twice and future prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, garners big Pakistan vote

As counting continues in Pakistan's historic elections, Mr. Sharif's party has pulled away from its two main rivals. But the process of building a coalition will take time.?

By Saba Imtiaz,?Correspondent / May 12, 2013

Nawaz Sharif celebrates as early vote counts show his party with a commanding lead in the polls.

K.M. Chaudary/AP

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It took scores of terrorist attacks, months of speculation and campaigning, but the verdict is in: Twice-elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif is set to win a third term after his party won a majority in the country?s parliamentary elections.

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Pakistan went to the polls?Saturday?to elect candidates for the lower house of parliament and four provincial assemblies. Mr. Sharif?s party, the center-right Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ? is projected to win over 120 seats, with the ruling center-left Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) trailing by a huge margin. Despite making gains and galvanizing new voters to take part, a national upset wasn't in the cards for former cricket-star Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).?

But Sharif isn?t going to take over power?tomorrow?? or even next week. There?s a lengthy process ahead of forming a coalition.

The victorious Sharif told supporters?on Saturday?night that he would like an ?absolute majority? and ?not have to ask for votes? but was open to talking to every party. He is often said that he is open to a coalition, but has warned that a ?split mandate? is not what Pakistan needs given the scale of the country's challenges.?

Pakistan?s lower house of parliament ? the main legislative body ? comprises 342 seats, of which 272 were up for grabs in the election. Polls for several seats were suspended after the deaths of candidates. Polling may also be conducted again for one seat in Karachi, which was marred by reports of electoral fraud and delays. The other 60 seats, "reserved" for women and non-Muslims, are indirectly elected based on the number of seats won by their parties. The party that reaches a majority with 172 seats forms ?the next government at the federal level.

To reach the magic 172, Sharif will now have to form alliances, even if these are with parties that his center-right party is ideologically opposed to. So while the dust of the elections has settled and those killed in pre-election violence are mourned, a storm will be kicked up in Lahore, where the PML-N is headquartered.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/dV3c4xsz5yo/The-twice-and-future-prime-minister-Nawaz-Sharif-garners-big-Pakistan-vote

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