2013 Sindh provincial election

2013 Sindh provincial election
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Election name	2013 Sindh provincial election
Country	Pakistan
Type	legislative
Previous election	2008 Pakistani general election
Previous year	2008
Next election	2018 Pakistani general election
Next year	2018

2013 Sindh provincial election was held on May 11, 2013, to elect the members of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh. The election was a part of the 2013 Pakistani general election, which was held to elect the members of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the four provincial assemblies, including the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Provincial Assembly of Balochistan. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Asif Ali Zardari, was the incumbent party in Sindh, while the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif, was the main opposition party. The election was also contested by other major parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), led by Altaf Hussain, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan.

Background

The 2013 Sindh provincial election was held in the backdrop of the War in North-West Pakistan, which had started in 2004 and was still ongoing. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), led by Hakimullah Mehsud, had been carrying out attacks against the Pakistan Armed Forces and civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) had promised to hold talks with the TTP if it came to power, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had taken a harder stance against the militants. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had been a key player in the politics of Sindh, particularly in Karachi, where it had a strong presence. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been gaining popularity, especially among the youth of Pakistan, due to its anti-corruption and anti-status quo stance. The Awami National Party (ANP), led by Asfandyar Wali Khan, and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), led by Syed Munawar Hasan, were also contesting the election.

Election Day

On May 11, 2013, millions of voters in Sindh went to the polls to elect their representatives to the Provincial Assembly of Sindh. The election was largely peaceful, with some incidents of violence reported in Karachi and other parts of the province. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had set up over 7,000 polling stations across Sindh, where voters cast their ballots. The Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces were deployed to maintain law and order during the election. The International Crisis Group (ICG) and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had expressed concerns about the potential for violence and electoral fraud in the election. The United States, European Union, and other international organizations had also been monitoring the election.

Results

The results of the 2013 Sindh provincial election showed that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had emerged as the largest party in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, winning 91 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) came second, winning 51 seats, while the Pakistan Muslim League (F) (PML-F) won 11 seats. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also won a few seats each. The Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) failed to win any seats in the assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced the results after counting the votes from all the polling stations. The Supreme Court of Pakistan had also been monitoring the election and had taken notice of some complaints of electoral irregularities.

Aftermath

After the results of the 2013 Sindh provincial election were announced, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed a coalition government in Sindh with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Muslim League (F) (PML-F). Qaim Ali Shah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sindh for a second term. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had alleged that the election was rigged and had demanded a recount in some constituencies. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had rejected these allegations and had stated that the election was free and fair. The United Nations (UN) and other international organizations had congratulated the people of Pakistan on the successful completion of the election. The European Union (EU) had also praised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for its efforts to ensure a free and fair election.

Candidates

Some of the notable candidates who contested the 2013 Sindh provincial election included Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Altaf Hussain, and Qaim Ali Shah. Other prominent candidates included Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Sharif, Pervez Khattak, and Rehman Malik. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had fielded candidates in all the constituencies of Karachi, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had contested all the seats in Sindh. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had also fielded candidates in many constituencies. The Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) had contested a few seats each. The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) had also fielded candidates in some constituencies. Category:2013 elections in Pakistan