well come to freedom.Now let them work for five years .military shouldn't interfere aagain in poltics,problem will come but its the people of pakistan will decide not the dictators

maqsood-ur-rehman, birmingham, uk

I wish Pakistan the best of luck. This is a forward looking result but can a coalition work. They will spend the initial few months trying to get rid of Musharraf, while everything else will be neglected. As soon as he is out of the picture, the differences between the parties will surface and then what?

Vinay Mehra, Purley, Surrey

Well this could be the begining of a downslope of musharraf's stenght and infulence on pakistan's foreign and internal policies but i doubt if judiciary will be restored independently and also corruption will end....because if you look back in past....mr. zardari and mr. sharif's parties were the culprit in forcing pakistan under heavy debt.

I dont see a positive change in pakistan politics in near future.
I am waiting for Imran khan to build up his partiy with lawyers and aim for elections in 2018 :-). He could bring some change...

Dr. Muhammad Imran, Basildon, U.K

This could be a new beginning. The politicians must now work together for the good of the country, even if it means keeping Musharraf as president.

Hamad Lone, London, England

how refreshing. a vote for a different kind of mayhem and corruption. well, different to the last lot, if not the previous lot. those with longer memories may find it familiar, however.

jem, london, uk

"Nations with democratic aspirations exist by the grace of the USA"

Haha, well that's big of you Fredrick.. Correct me if I'm wrong but the point of democracy is self-determination, yes? Not just doing what America wants.

Owen, London, UK

They could hardly co-operate any less with us in the war against
radical jihadists in the "tribal areas".
No co-operation is no co-operation.
This is not a stable looking future.

Countries that have nuclear weapons need to be more stable
and romanticizations about ancient fierce tribal traditions
will vanish in microseconds if Pakistan under Nawaz Sharif
"loses" one or two it's warheads to the Taleban or Al-Qaeda.

Pakistan's business is it's own, but it's government should make
no mistake about th retaliation they will provoke if one of
their devices explodes in the USA, and that would be true
under any American President. It's fair to say that any
American President who did not order the appropriate
response would be deposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff
anyways. So listen up and mind how you go.

Dave M., Tonopah NV / London, USA / UK

While it can be claimed as victory for democracy, a coalition is not a good thing for a not-so-mature democracy like that of pak. There will be unity among the coalition while their common enemy Musharraf is still there. and surely they will try to eliminate him. after that, it will be back to infighting among coalition partners, and military is going to take over the control again. And the coalition politics is not going to allow the govt to act tough on the extremists either. with coalition, you have to accommodate lots of people and religious bigots will be one among them.

One of the requirement of democracy is strong judiciary and press. over the years the military dictators have systematically subdued these two. and the civilian govt doesnt have interest in fixing them either, because in short term it suits them. but long term it is those deficiencies that cost them their governments. So, new govt has to remedy this and establish rule of law or atleast its resemblance. failing which there will be coup again, may be in couple of years if not longer.

Karthik, Chennai, India

The people of pakistan always take the decision correctly. In 1971, if the peoples view were respected, the liberation war of bangladesh could have been taken later (though it was obvious, today or tomorrow). But the rullers of Pakistan saldom respect the view of people. After gaining the support from people, the leaders of Pakistan usually forget them and try to make underhand deal (or forced) with the military. If the leaders of Pakistan had been taged with the people instead of army, they could have saved at least their image in the polital arena. Now it is widely belived, the political leaders, ofcourse along with the help of military power or military along with the help of political persons ahe ruined the country. One muscle flexing of army had done the early breaking of pakistan and future interseption could get another round of seperation, which is being warned by the PPP leader Zardari. So this time pak army and politician should have taken decision how the country would run.

Khaled Faruqui, Dhaka, Bangladesh

It's interesting to note the enthusiasm with which the "return to democracy" is being embraced. Given the history of rigging, even under "democratic" rule, I think the results are to the credit of the present regime.

At the same time, one can't say what this will mean in terms of tangible change; the leadership is still going to be corrupt, and the agenda for reform is still hazy. The one thing that the opposition parties seemed united on prior to the election was antipathy towards Musharraf.

Madeeha Ansari, London,

It will come as a surprise to most citizens of the USA that Musharraf has sustained and accepted defeat in an election in a country most Americans though incapable of democratic political change.
But any rhetoric from a new government that even hints at a diminution in Pakistan's commitment to the eradication of Al Qaeda and the prevention of Taliban rule in Afghanistan will be viewed by the new President, regardless of party affiliation, as a dramatic backward step in USA-Pakistan relations. A legitimizing of the tactics and goals of Al Qaeda by the government of Pakistan will result in consequences that will set the country back generations, particularly economically and possibly in other arenas as well.
Internecine maneuvering within Pakistan power circles are of little interest to the American public. But Pakistan courts grave consequences if those maneuverings result in policies antithetical to those of the USA.
Nations with democratic aspirations exist by the grace of the USA

Fredrick Bernanke, San Diego, California/USA

Great Article. The people of Pakistan have totally rejected the fundamentalists in these elections. They have now lost all the seats (unofficial results Feb 18, 2008) Previously they were ruling this province. Howoever, Musharraf is responsible for killing so may civilians because of pressure of USA his forces have bombed its own civilian people and also USA has also bombed this area and killed many civilians in North West Frontier.People of this area could have been easily been won over by money. In this area the British in their heydays lost three wars though they were ruling the whole world.Its the most treacherous terrain in the world for fighting a gureilla war. Please learn from history the Great Russians were also defeated here because of these tribes who have more weapons, motivation and training in warfare because of traditions of 400 years.Strong actions will not help here please don;t take American pressure. Isolating and dealing with extremism can come politically.

Rahat, Mississauga, Canada

As a well educated professional Pakistani, I think the nation is all up for a change. I have seen our youth so well mobilised than never before. I also think it is time US and the rest of tyhe world realises that the secret behind keeping good relations lies at the grass root level, and not with dictators and military regimes. Today Pakistanis have shown that they are disgusted by Mush and his puppet regime, as well as by the double standards that have become the hall mark of USA as a nation.
Unless USA realises this, I unfortunately see further disgust and anger among even the well educated and professional classes of Pakistanis.

Dr J A Tipu, Belfast, UK

I am delighted to say with confidence that the people of Pakistan have once again shown that given half a chance they will embrace democracy like any other country and they are not extremists. It was president Musharraf, who in his own twisted way was telling, anyone who was willing to listen, that Pakistan was not ready for democracy as it is known in the West. He is now proven to be wrong. The people of Pakistan can exercise their vote and can safeguard its institutions. It is about time that President Musharraf should pack up and leave. The country would be better off without him.
With regard to Mr Zardari, who was said to be keeping the seat warm for their son, I can only say, that Zardari was given the role of "interim" leadership. But by nominating their son he has acquired for himself 100 % control of the party. He still has to face aggravated money-laundering charge in Switzerland. Pakistan is about to get rid of Musharraf and they do not want Mr 10% taking 100%

Akram Malik, Gympie, Australia/Queensland

In spite of poor voter turnout, the people of Pakistan have shown their democratic credentials by voting for secular parties instead of clerical and ethnic based. The military should realize it's shortcomings in government, as reflected by the polls. In the same breath usurpers need to be brought to justice. In the last 8 1/2 years innocent blood was shed, people incarcerated and tortured without trial, havoc wreaked on the whole judicial process wreaking it, perhaps for forever. The people have paid a big price. Now the new leader - if Zardari who lost his wife, and Sharif who lost power and suffered exile - should be a beacon of honesty and integrity in politics and its institutions. Less than 50 miles from Lahore lies India towards which they should turn for a lesson in statehood.

Khurshid Zaman, St. Petersburg, Florida/USA

Dont get so excited fellows. Here is your problem, see what you make of it? 150 million people, median age 15 years, adult literacy 50% and lastly... wealth per head about $300. As a comparison the Westerm world GDP per head is $35,000. But as Obambi says "hope you can believe in" eh?

George Steiner, Lachine,

Most Pakistanis are against terrorism, would love for the country's economy to improve, and disagree with radical Islamists. Unfortunately, thismajority's feelings are often overshadowed by the outrageous actions of a minority of radicals. Until Pakistan elects a government capable of exerting control over the western tribal regions, and preventing their aiding and abetting of Taliban and al Qaeda terrorists, the rest of the world will not take that government, seriously, and will view Pakistan as part of the terrorism problem rather than part of the solution.

Rob, Santa Cruz, California

I truly wish the new government of Pakistan all the best. They deserve a much needed relief from the dictatorship of the past 8 years. In reading Ms Bhutto's book "Reconciliation", it seems claer that Pakistan has to start from ground up. It is really too sad that 60 years after independence, the people have not been given the trust they desrve, and the rights they demand.

Megha Shyam, Corvallis, OR, USA

Rural Punjab the stronghold of the PML(Q) will decide the elections and the results will come in late.

Hold your breath. We will update frequently.

http://www.rupeenews.com

moin ansari, Parsiappny, US