Date:11/10/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/10/11/stories/2002101109921200.htm

International

`Fears of rigging in Pak. elections proved wrong'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Oct. 10. The apprehensions of various political parties about possible rigging during the general elections in Pakistan today appear to have been proved wrong. By and large there were no complaints from any part of the country of Government interference in the poll process.

However the questions and controversies that dogged the run-up to the elections are likely to continue for some time to come. Most of the parties and independent observers have accused the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, of `pre-poll rigging' and massive changes in the Constitution, institutionalising the role of the military in governance. The new Parliament is seen as likely to be subservient to Gen. Musharraf as he has armed himself with powers to dissolve it and

dismiss the Government on specific grounds.

His decision to bar the two former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, from contesting and disqualifying them from becoming Prime Minister for a third term added to the perception that he was determined to keep them out of the political ring.

Three-hundred international observers drawn from various world forums, including the European Union and the Commonwealth supervised the elections.

The chief of the EU team told reporters that no incidents of irregularities had come to their notice.

Pre-election opinion polls and at least one exit poll predicted an edge for the party led by the former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto.

Curiously the head of the new wing floated by her, Makhdoom Fahim, is rushing to London, where Mrs. Bhutto lives in exile, for consultations on the evolving situation.

Projections by a leading Pakistan fortnightly, Herald, put Mrs. Bhutto's party ahead in the National Assembly with 76 seats.

The rebel Muslim Leaguers are not very far behind. The original Muslim League is placed in the third place with 35 seats. The magazine predicts a clear victory for PPP in the Sind Assembly and a hung Assembly in Punjab.