The leaders express good wishes to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief as well as to the people of Pakistan. Photo: IBNLive

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Sunday congratulated Pakistani people and government in successfully holding the 14^th general election with nearly the 60% of voters- the highest turnout since 1977. Ban appreciated the determination of the political parties and individuals who had participated in the election, despite security threats ahead of the election. US President Barack Obama also praised the election and stressed that this was an important transition to a second transitional civilian government and milestone in the process of the establishment of democracy in Pakistan. He indicated Washington’s willingness to cooperate with the new Pakistani government as an equal partner. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his hope that India could start a new relationship program with neighboring Pakistan. Polls in Pakistan closed on Saturday and the counting of votes is being conducted urgently. According to preliminary results, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PLM-N, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s center-right conservative party, is leading with 115 seats in the National Assembly.