Pakistan Election

·         On February 19, 2008 in Pakistan, while pro-Musharraf party PML-Q was routed in  parliamentary polls, PPP emerged the single largest party with 87 of 269 National Assembly seats and Pakistan Muslim League-N, headed by Sharif, two-time PM got 66

·         Sharif who was toppled in a bloodless coup by President Pervez Musharraf in 1999.

·         Musharraf, whose grip on power may loosen, rejected calls for him to quit after the defeat of his allies.

·         PML-Q supporting Musharraf got 39 seats while other allies like MQM bagged 19.

·         A record 11 women candidates have won the contest for general seats in elections to the National Assembly.

o        Sixty seats reserved for women will be allocated to respective parties proportionate to the strength of the votes polled by them.

·         Pakistan is divided into four provinces viz., North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. The tribal belt adjoining NWFP is managed by the Federal Government and is named FATA i.e., Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas have their own respective political and administrative machinery, yet certain of their subjects are taken care of by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas. Provinces of Pakistan are further divided into Divisions and Districts

·         Parliament consists of two Houses i.e., the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House).   

·         The Senate is a permanent legislative body and symbolises a process of continuity in the national affairs. It consists of 100 members. The four Provincial Assemblies, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Federal Capital form its electoral college.  

·         The National Assembly has a total membership of 342 elected through adult suffrage (272 general seats, 60 women seats and 10 non-Muslim seats).