Another challenge comes from a resurgent former cricketer, Imran Khan, who appeals to the same conservative semi-religious, anti-West sentiment as Mr Sharif.

BBC: Asia

Similarly, a third of all the female candidates, mostly retainers of powerful feudal families or party-political activists, were elected unopposed and a third of the seats remained uncontested, highlighting the continued dominant influence of tribal and semi-feudal conservative traditions.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan��s peculiar election

Acting on intelligence information, Sultan said the soldiers began a routine search operation in the South Waziristan region -- a culturally conservative tribal area in Pakistan's semi-autonomous northwestern border region.

CNN: Fierce battle in al Qaeda hunt