Sharif Claims Early Victory in May 11 Elections

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, have declared victory in the historic general elections that was held on Saturday, May 11.

There was a huge turnout of about 60 percent of over 86 million eligible voters at the polling stations, amid threats of unending violence from the Pakistani Taliban.

The Election Commission praised the Pakistanis who came out to vote, citing that the turnout was the highest since 1977, despite the wave of violence that had at least 30 people killed in a series of gun and suicide attacks at polling stations across the country.

 
According to preliminary results, Sharif’s party took a promising lead, making it an assurance that he will be on the seat of power for a third time. But, the majorit

Sharif addressed his supporters at his campaign headquarters in Lahore, saying that the party thanks Allah for the opportunity to serve Pakistan again.

“Through this vote and campaign, I have felt how much love Pakistan has for me. And I have twice as much love for you.”

He added, “Thank God that he has given us the chance to help you to help Pakistan, to help the young people. We will fulfill all the promises that we have made.”

Policy director at Just Foreign Policy rights organization, Robert Naiman said that the success of MPL-N and Imran Khan’s Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI) may be in part because they made changing Pakistan’s strained relationship with the US a key plank in their campaigns.

He predicted that Pakistanis are unhappy with the “perception of subservience, the premendously unpopular drone strikes. And that we will see change in that direction under the Sharif government with Khan as the main opposition party.”

Sharif has urged Pakistanis to pray for a government that can be made theirs without compromises. He explained that a strong government cannot be made if they have to ask for seats, adding that his party would settle their differences.

 
“We forgive anyone who has abused us along the way, and we have not cursed anyone. We want to get Pakistan out of trouble. We have a program to change the state of Pakistan. We must make a decision to change this country…. To other parties, I say come and sit at the table,” he said