Election Day Arrives in Pakistan

Today, Pakistani’s are braving the threat of rampant terrorist attacks and head to the polls in one of the most critical elections in its history. If the election tilts towards a new parliament, it could drive Pervez Musharraf, considered by the Bush Administration to be an ally in the war on terror, from power.

As we have learned recently, it is dangerous to forecast election outcomes, but polling suggests that the Pakistan People’s Party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto will finish first, followed by another opposition party led by ex-premier Nawaz Sharif. The pro-Musharraf party — the Pakistani Muslim League-Q — is trailing a distant third.

Already, the Anti-Musharraf factions are warning that the election outcome is rigged to deliver a victory for Musharraf. Human Right Watch issued a report about a taped phone conversation it received in which Attorney General Malik Qayyum appeared to advise someone who wanted to run for office to contact officials who will “massively rig to get their own people to win. If you can get a ticket from these guys, take it.”

While the outcome is unknown, there is fear of violence all over Pakistan. 500,000 security personnel, including 81,000 troops, were deployed on high alert to try to stem a wave of bloodshed before the polls open.

Blogflict will be providing updates from citizen journalists in Pakistan as they are made available to us.

Update: By mid-afternoon there have been scattered reports of two bombs going off at one polling location, and one fatality caused in a gunfight between two opposing political factions. There are also allegations (unproven at this point) of vote manipulation and rigging. 

The Polls are now CLOSED in Pakistan and the vote counting has begun.  Musharraf has pledged to work with the winner of the election.