Pakistan Election Update: Election Day

PAKISTAN -- Elections have taken place across the nation today.  They appear to have been in large part peaceful, notwithstanding some being delayed due to security threats and some bombings at polling stations. Most of the violence was in Sindh Province. While the results are still being counted and a formal tally will not be out for some while, informally, we are likely to know the results even this evening.

Observing the election process in the Southern Punjab town of Multan, what is most notable is the enthusiasm for the elections from both old and young.  While the numbers who voted were low (lower even than in 2002), those that did participate strongly believed in the importance of their actions.  Women were out in force, arriving at the stations late in order to put their families in order first.  Men came earlier.  Interestingly, at least in my area, it is the poorer population who came out to vote in higher numbers than the more wealthy: this split believed to be caused by the desire from those at the bottom of the pile to see change.

Voting appeared to, predictably for Pakistan and in fact for many South Asian nations, follow individuals rather than parties or policies.  Some who are known for reaching out to the people did well despite less than popular views about their parties and visa versa. 

The conclusion of whether the vote was legitimate will take weeks to come out; the events on the day are just one small part of the whole process.  However, with formal and informal final results being announced in the near future, the next few weeks will be a time of negotiation as the winners sort out between them who will lead and who will support.  While the voting may be over, the democratic process is only just begun.