Pakistan Starts General Election

Pakistanis finally begin voting for their next president.

Voting has got off to a slow start in Pakistan. Financial markets and schools are closed as the country takes the day off. But fears of violence are overshadowing the general election. 80,000 troops are supporting police to watch over a vote that could return the country to democratic rule. Here's more.

STORY:
This election was originally scheduled for early January but was delayed because of the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The death of Bhutto, and concerns about stability in the nuclear-armed state, means the vote is being keenly watched by allies and neighbors.

But fear of violence could hurt the turnout. Gunmen opened fire on an election office in Lahore yesterday. One man who was a candidate for the Pakistan Muslim Leage-N was killed, and five others injured.

Other Pakistani voters are hoping for a peaceful election.

[Riaz Ahmad, Karachi Resident]:
"We hope the polling takes place in peace across Pakistan, and God willing, the process is completed in a peaceful manner."

Suspected militants set off bombs at two polling stations in the northwest before polls opened. On Saturday a suicide attack on supporters of Bhutto's party killed 47 people in a town near the Afghan border.

The other worry is rigging, which could prompt opposition parties to reject results. Foreign observers are also present to make sure the elections are fair.

[Rubert Wirsing, U.S. Observer]:
"I have been visiting a number of polling stations to observe the circumstances and certainly here very orderly the voting is very light at the moment but I'm sure as the day goes on the voting will pick up."

Voters are also hoping the elections are transparent.

[Voter, Lahore]:
"If, God willing, there are transparent and fair elections, then the country will progress. Pakistan is a gold mine."

President Musharraf's popularity has plunged over the past year because of his maneuvers to hold onto power. The sympathy vote is expected to help Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party get the majority vote. Results are expected by midnight, and trends should be clear by Tuesday.

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[yahoovisitor]

An economist at a local TV revealed that Zardari/Ruling Class of Pakistanis has above $150 billion abroad of which if they bring back only 25% economic instability can end & Pakistan can develop at a faster pace. He totally forgot that this money is given for creating instability in Pakistan & not to stabilize it. West claims to have invested this fund here but a poor Pakistani doesnt even get a single penny out of it & this comes out of the funds thrown out there from the national economy.

[yahoovisitor]

The way all 4 provincial assemblies agreed for president's impeachment leading to his banishment is a visible sign for Zardari's Anti Pakistan/Anti Islamic group to realize the value of their hypocrisy. Musharraf was condemned due to this attitude & Zardari represents the same school of thought. How can the politicians who already exiled a Hypocrite like Musharraf will accept another or rather bigger Hypocrite Zardari. It's the People's Party's biggest miconception and needs to be corrected.