• CONGRESS: Spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said the party welcomed the fact that there would be restoration of democracy in Pakistan now.• BJP: Party president Rajnath Singh has hailed the peaceful conclusion of elections in Pakistan and hoped that it will mark the “end of a decade-long dictatorial darkness in that country”. He, however, expressed “dismay” over the limited role of Hindu minorities in Pakistani politics. “We welcome the victory of the democratic forces in the recently concluded polls in Pakistan and hope that the democratic forces will provide Pakistan with a truly representative government with peoples’ participation. We also hope that they will be able to exercise proper democratic control over the Pakistani Army which was responsible for the Kargil war and continues to unleash cross border terrorism against India. We expect the new rulers of Pakistan to work towards a peaceful settlement of all issues between India and Pakistan and to make constructive contribution to regional peace and cooperation.”• CPI(M): The Politburo said the verdict was a rejection of the authoritarian military rule and the reaffirmation of people’s faith in parliamentary democracy. “Equally significant is the verdict against religion-based parties and sectarian politics,” it said. “The formation of a coalition government based on the popular mandate will augur well for Pakistan’s the transition to a full-fledged democratic system. The elections should have a beneficial impact in the region as a whole. It provides an appropriate setting for the continuance of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue and steps to improve ties between the two countries.”
