The Pakistani elections, that took place on 18 February, were according to Pakistani civil society a vote of rejection towards the regime of President Pervez Musharraf. “The people of Pakistan have spoken”, said Pakistani journalist Wajahat Latif. According to him, the fact that Musharraf was watch by the world community and disapproved of domestically, limited the scope for large scale rigging by the establishment. The result of these elections make a major image correction of Pakistan: it redraws the societal profile, providing space for liberal thought and debate. But the question remains: has President Musharraf accepted the mandate of the people?

• Click here to read Wajahat Latif article
• Click here to read the Council declaration on the elections in Pakistan