Pakistan Army & art of elections

This is the first time in its history that Pakistan's people have risen to vote against the Army and defeat it. If this isn't a win for democracy, how would you describe it?

Well over a week since the Pakistan election results, we still can’t say who won or lost. Nor can we say who’s going to form the government — the winners, the losers, or a combination of the winner and some or all of the losers. That last scenario seems the likeliest.

As this tamasha plays out, it provides us with a breather to raise a more substantive question: Has democracy won or lost in this election in Pakistan?

Generally, it’s been accepted that each election has strengthened the democratic impulse in Pakistan, barring, of course, the odd “party-less” one (there were a