Sharif’s PML-N, ally PPP sweep bypolls in Pakistan

Pakistan's ruling coalition swept bypolls in the country, that were marred by sporadic violence.

Pakistan’s ruling coalition swept bypolls in the country, that were marred by sporadic violence. Former premier Nawaz Sharif’s PML(N) party won three parliamentary seats and its partner Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) bagged the remaining two. PML(N) also won eight of the 23 provincial assembly seat that went to polls, while the PPP romped home in seven.

Buoyed by his party’s strong performance in Pakistan’s by-elections, Nawaz Sharif on Friday vowed to restore the judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf “at any cost”. Sharif himself could not contest the bypolls as he was disqualified by the Lahore High Court.

“We will rest only when the real judges of Pakistan are restored to their positions. The real judges are Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his colleagues,” Sharif said.

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According to unofficial results provided by the Election Commission, the PML(N) won the three seats in the National Assembly or the lower house of Parliament from Punjab province, including two in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Sharif’s son-in-law Muhammad Safdar bagged a seat in Rawalpindi. Polling was postponed for a sixth parliamentary seat in the eastern city of Lahore because of legal wrangling over whether Sharif was eligible to contest. The PPP bagged two National Assembly seats, one in Mardan and another at Okara in Punjab.

Of the 23 provincial assembly seats, PML(N) won eight, PPP seven and the Awami National Party two. Independent candidates bagged six seats. PML(N) also performed well in its stronghold of Punjab, winning seven of the 12 provincial assembly seats.

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