"People wanted a change and they are happy with the results," said the National Council of Churches of Pakistan (NCCP) in a statement on February 21 hailing the "free and fair elections" held under intense international scrutiny.

"The results of the elections were unexpectedly beyond the imaginations of many parties," said the NCCP, which groups four Protestant churches in Pakistan.

The opposition parties swept the polls, led by Asif Ali Zardari, of the Pakistan People's Party, and Nawaz Sharif, head of the Pakistan Muslim League-N. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q), better known as the King's Party, which owes allegiance to Musharraf, suffered a stinging defeat garnering a mere 40 seats in the 272-member national parliament while many federal ministers lost their parliament seats.

The Pakistan People's Party of Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated during the election campaign on December 27, won 87 seats and the Pakistan Muslim League-N party of Sharif, who had been sent into exile by Musharraf, won 66 seats.

"The people's will has manifested itself despite bloodshed and fear," Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Roman Catholic Church, told Ecumenical News International.

More than 200 people had been killed in suicide blasts and clashes during the extended campaign for the February 18 elections for the National Assembly and four provincial legislatures, after the poll had been postponed for six weeks following the assassination of Bhutto.

"This election is a victory for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people," noted Jacob.

Victor Azariah, NCCP general secretary, told ENI that "the success of the transparent elections holds hope for the country. The defeat of the religious parties is also really good news, especially for the minorities."

Islamic fundamentalist parties also had been routed in the elections losing more than 50 of the seats they held in the previous National Assembly. Still, no party is in a position to form a government on its own.

"This is the time of test for the politicians to prove their worth and put the wrong into right such as restoration of the constitution, judiciary and abolishing of all...discriminatory laws," said Azariah.