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Voting is underway in Pakistan’s legislative elections, in a tense climate marked by fears of violence and fraud. The ballot should have taken place last month but was delayed after the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The country is still reeling from her murder and campaigning has been low key because of concerns over security.
A suicide attack on supporters of Bhutto’s party killed 47 people in a town near the Afghan border on Saturday. Overnight, five people, including an opposition candidate, were killed by gunmen in Lahore.
The two main opposition parties claim allies of President Pervez Musharraf are intent on rigging the vote.
A massive security presence is surrounding today’s election but fears of violence could hurt the turnout.
