Arab News : Musharraf Wins Big

Musharraf Wins Big

Azhar Masood | Arab News | October 7, 2007

ISLAMABAD -- Gen. Pervez Musharraf swept Pakistan’s presidential election yesterday, but he must wait for the Supreme Court until at least Oct. 17 to confirm the legality of his bid before being declared the winner.

Musharraf crushed token rivals in a vote by lawmakers from the Parliament and provincial assemblies that was mostly boycotted by the opposition.

“I bow my head in front of God and thank him for giving me such a great victory,” Musharraf told reporters at the presidential palace after the election.

He called on opposition parties to accept the outcome and urged them not to destabilize the volatile nation of 160 million people by holding strikes or protests. But he refused to say what he would do if the Supreme Court overturns the result — amid speculation that he could declare martial law — adding: “Let them come to their decision, then we will decide.”

The United States gave cautious welcome. “Pakistan is an important partner and ally to the United States and we congratulate them for today’s election,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said, refusing to comment on the winner until an official declaration is made.

In the two houses of Parliament, Musharraf won 252 of 257 votes cast. His closest rival, Wajihuddin Ahmed, won two votes, while three votes were rejected, Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq told the National Assembly. Musharraf won most votes in the provincial assemblies and finished with 384 electoral college votes out of 702, according to a Reuters tally.

Opposition parties, who make up nearly 30 percent of the college, had resigned prior to the election, while former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s MPs abstained after she sealed a reconciliation deal with Musharraf on Friday. Consequently, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of Benazir’s Pakistan People’s Party, did not get a single vote.

Musharraf dismissed criticism that the boycott had undermined the legitimacy of the election. “Democracy means majority whether there is opposition or no opposition,” Musharraf, dressed casually in a gray jacket, told reporters on the lawn of his official residence. “A majority, a vast majority have voted for me and therefore that result is the result.”

Supporters of Musharraf’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid) party beat drums and set off fireworks here. But anti-Musharraf protesters angrily set fire to an armored police vehicle and pelted the provincial parliament with stones in Peshawar, while there were small protests in Karachi.

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that the official results can only be declared after it rules on complaints lodged by Musharraf’s opponents on his eligibility. Hearings on those petitions will resume Oct. 17. Musharraf’s current presidential term expires Nov. 15.

Although the court this year has issued rulings that have shaken Musharraf’s dominance, analysts doubted it would overturn the result. “It will be extremely difficult for the Supreme Court to undo what has been done today, although that possibility remains,” said Rasul Bakhsh Rais, professor of political science at Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Additional input from agencies