Pakistan goes to parliamentary polls on a knife-edge
Monday, 18 Feb 2008 08:18
President Pervez Musharraf has been accused of fraud ahead of today's vote
Pakistan In Focus
Pervez Musharraf's resignation leaves a big hole in Pakistani politics – one which analysts expect the west will look to the military to fill. Full Story
The population of
Pakistan is set to vote in crucial parliamentary polls today despite possible unrest in the country.
Many commentators fear violence will erupt at some point today as people come out in numbers to cast their vote in the election of a ruling party.
The poll was initially scheduled to take place early last month, but the current leader, president Pervez Musharraf, was forced to delay the vote following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on December 27th.
Ms Bhutto was killed after shots were fired and a car bomb exploded at a political rally she was holding in Rawalpindi for the Pakistan People's party (PPP).
Bilawal Bhutto, Ms Bhutto's 19-year-old son who is currently studying at Oxford University, has since been made leader of the opposition party in Pakistan.
Despite paying lip service to the election, many believe President Musharraf's party is planning to defraud the vote in order to retain power.
This in turn has meant opposition parties have vowed to protest the result if they suspect voter fraud.
Several protestors are already thought to have taken to the street to make their feelings known about President Musharraf's party and the handling of the election, leading to fears that violent clashes could overshadow the day.
Reports suggest confrontations have already taken place in certain areas of the country, including Qadirpur, and that voter turnout is low ahead of the polls closing at 17:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
Around 80,000 troops are thought to have been deployed in major cities to prevent unrest, although there have been several explosions near polling stations across the country according to local media.
This follows Saturday's violence when 47 people were killed at a political rally.