By Fasih Ahmed

Lahore -Reactions in Pakistan to America’s historic presidential elections run the gamut from enthusiastic approval, especially among the country’s educated young, to outraged disbelief, especially among Pakistanis who remember Obama as the presidential candidate who vowed to send troops into Pakistan if Osama Bin Laden were pinpointed and the Pakistani government failed to capture or kill him.

"I am really happy and excited for America today!” said Anum Sohail, a social worker. “It’s commendable what they’ve done, it’s history we can all learn from.” She said it was unfortunate that Obama didn’t allow himself to be photographed with Muslims on the campaign trail. “But anti-Islam sentiment is so high there that I guess he had to be careful,” she said. She did not expect U.S. policy toward Pakistan to change under President Obama. “It’s shameful how our leaders have made us so dependent on the U.S.,” said Mujeeb Shah, 38, a bookstore checkout clerk. “Obama will not change the U.S. policy of invading and killing Muslims,” he said. “America should leave us alone and respect our sovereignty!”

Adeel Butt, a 23-year-old lights salesman, says it’s too early to know what an Obama presidency will mean for Pakistan. But he has suggestions: “They should help us bring prices down, end poverty and give us cheap oil,” he said.

Citing Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s friendship with assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Obama’s friendship with Pakistanis while at Columbia University and his visits as a student to this country, Sen. Safdar Abbasi from the ruling Pakistan People’s Party says an Obama presidency augurs well for democracy in Pakistan. “Both Obama and Biden are friends of the Pakistani people and will support our recently-won democracy,” he said. The Biden-Lugar Bill would provide Pakistan with $15 billion over 10 years.

See the full round-up of the world's reaction to the election of Barack Obama.