Right Leading Bhutto Coalition in 2nd Election
A right-wing coalition was leading Benazir Bhutto’s party in early returns of provincial elections Saturday, threatening the ousted prime minister with her second defeat in a week.
At least 33 people were killed and about 50 injured in clashes between rival parties. It was the bloodiest election day in Pakistan’s 43-year history.
The legislative elections in Pakistan’s four provinces--Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan and Northwest Frontier--were considered a test of strength for the Islamic Democratic Alliance, a loose-knit, right-wing coalition of 18 parties that won national elections Wednesday and will form the next government.
With more than half of the 483 provincial races decided, Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party had lost nearly every race in Punjab, the largest province. Her party was also in danger of losing its majority in Sind, Bhutto’s home province.
In elections Wednesday for the National Assembly, the policy-making lower house of Parliament that chooses the prime minister, the Islamic alliance defeated Bhutto by a 2-to-1 margin, denying her a second chance to lead this Muslim country of 110 million people.
Election officials said turnout among Pakistan’s 50 million eligible voters was moderate to light Saturday.
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