Politicians who thought these Islamic parties had deep support "were completely wrong, " says Anis Baswedan, president of Jakarta's Paramadina University, which specializes in Islamic studies.

WSJ: Indonesia Polls Show Hard-Line Islamists Losing Ground

For example, just last Friday Anis Saputra, 24, and Kiki Hanafilia, 17 each received eight lashes in a public ceremony outside a local mosque for being caught kissing in October.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The feminist deception

"Trade with India is likely to open up if he wins and in that case Lahore will be the place to make investments, " said Anis ul-Haq, Punjab secretary of the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association, which represents the province's multibillion-dollar garments industry.

WSJ: Tight Race Seen in Landmark Pakistan Election

Cinnamon, turmeric, star anis and aniseed.

BBC: NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Military rivalry in Kyrgyzstan

Anis Hidayah, executive director of the migrant worker advocacy agency Migrant Care, told CNN that she was pleased with the government's decision to stop sending workers to Saudi Arabia but expressed a need for serious action beyond the creation of task forces given the responsibility of monitoring migrant worker protection overseas.

CNN: Indonesian migrant worker endured years of abuse