Nawaz Sharif set for third term in office
The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) under its leader Nawaz Sharif has won the elections in Pakistan on 11 May. According to Pakistani media, the unofficial results suggest that the former opposition party PML-N has until now captured at least 125 seats with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) around 30 seats each. The required majority is 137 seats, which Sharif’s party could gain with support from small and independent parties.
Sharif had been prime minister twice in the 1990s and is set for a third term in office after his party’s election victory. The announcement of final results is expected to take a few more days. The voter turnout of 60% was the highest since Pakistan’s first election in 1970.
The PTI with its leader Imran Khan, who had been injured during the election rally, received fewer votes than expected. The former cricket player stated that his party would investigate irregularities in the electoral process, especially in Lahore and Karachi.
Inside the CCP Training School
By Fraser Cameron
Think of a Chinese Communist Party re-education training school and the mind conjures a Mao-suited party official haranguing Party members sitting with blank faces. Wrong. On a recent lecture tour of China, I was invited to observe the closing session of a week-long training course for Party members who had been living and working overseas.
Chinese Premier visits India and Pakistan
China’s Premier Li Keqiang starts a three day visit to India on 19 May during which ‘all issues will be on the table’ according to the Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman.
Pakistan and Regional Security
Panellists at an EU-Asia policy briefing on 15 May were broadly agreed that the elections in Pakistan were a historic opportunity for the country. Huma Yusuf just back from observing the elections, said notable features included the high turnout, the number of female voters and the pragmatic nature of electoral debate.
EU-ASIA Centre is a new think tank dedicated to promoting closer relations between the EU and Asia.
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