Expats in UAE hail opposition parties' victory

Dubai: Pakistanis in the UAE are jubilant over the victory of the leading opposition parties and hope they will work together to alleviate the law and order situation.

They said the people of Pakistan have for the first time exercised their right to vote with great conscience to elect their representatives in what they called free and fair elections. They said the ruling party lost because they failed to serve the people despite the fact they had full five years to do so.

"We, the overseas Pakistanis, congratulate the people of Pakistan for these historic elections in which they rejected the negative influence and freely voted for the future of Pakistan," said Dr Ikramullah Al Nasir, a prominent Pakistani in Dubai.

He said that it was the two parties' duty to join hands and work together to bring the country out of its current crises.

Suffered enough

Sardar Javed Yaqoob, a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) supporter said the elections proved once again the PPP was the most popular party in the country.

"We will form the government with our allies and work together to improve the economic situation in line with the directions of our late leader Benazir Bhutto," he added.

Also, he said the PPP would unearth those behind Bhutto's assassination.

Kaiser Ghuman, a Sharjah businessman believed the elections were fair.

"I believe it is an open referendum against President General Musharraf and he should resign. The judiciary should be restored, media curbs should be lifted and extremism must end," he added.

Abdul Nabi Bangash, a supporter of the Awami National Party (ANP), which won the majority seat in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) wiping out religious parties, said that it was the right time for President Musharraf to step down with grace.

"We do not want any more trouble for the people of Pakistan had already suffered enough."