Pakistan Goes to Polls in Leadership Vote

Pakistanis voted today on whether to endorse their military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, for five more years as president and to give him a mandate to pursue controversial policies, including a crackdown on Islamic militants and backing for the US war on terrorism.

Opposition leaders and Islamist hardliners urged a boycott of the ballot, which analysts say Gen Musharraf is almost certain to win. He is backed by leading business groups, scores of trade unions, some political parties and, crucially, by the military.

Critics accused him of using the machinery of state to increase the number of voters casting ballots and to ensure a positive result. Voting rules have been relaxed and an unprecedented 87,000 polling stations set up, some in unprecedented venues such as gas stations, hospitals and prisons.

Their concern seemed borne out by the Urdu-language sample referendum ballots, which read: "For the survival of the local government system, establishment of democracy, continuity of reforms, end to sectarianism and extremism, and to fulfil the vision of [Pakistan's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah], would you like to elect President Gen Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan for five years?"

In the eastern city of Lahore, four or five members of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's party were taken into police custody during the night to keep them from disrupting the vote, said the police chief, Javed Noor.

"We had information that 20 people belonging to the Pakistan People's party had plans to create unrest and disturb the polling process," Mr Noor said, adding that police were looking for others on the list of suspects.

From exile in New York, Ms Bhutto urged in a statement printed in many newspapers: "If people boycott the referendum, it means he has lost." Ms Bhutto served as prime minister twice and has been living abroad since her exile on corruption and misrule charges in 1997.

Hardline Islamic groups, outraged by Gen Musharraf's decision to abandon the Taliban and side with the US-led war in Afghanistan, are also opposing the referendum.

Voter turnout varied markedly from city to city. It was brisk in the capital, Islamabad, and in the eastern city of Lahore, but light in Rawalpindi and in Karachi, the largest city and base of many Islamic fundamentalist groups.

Gen Musharraf dressed casually to cast his own vote just after noon (0600 GMT) with his wife, Sehba, and mother in a polling station set up at a women's university in an army compound in Rawalpindi.

"I am very confident," he said after joking that he had voted no. "I am feeling relaxed because of what I've seen on television and the reports I've received. For 20 days I campaigned and now it's over and the results will come out."

Mr Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. The supreme court endorsed him but gave him three years to introduce reforms and return the country to democracy. Mr Musharraf called the referendum to extend his presidency before the deadline is up in October, when the next parliamentary elections are to be held.

Mohammed Shabir, a 35-year-old labourer, was one of 10 voters waiting as polls opened in Lahore. "I wanted to be the first to cast my vote," Mr Shabir said, adding that he was voting for Gen Musharraf.

Young adults and government employees appeared the most eager to vote, and they voiced support for Gen Musharraf.

"Musharraf has revived Pakistan's ailing economy," said Haris Yamin, a 21-year-old student in Rawalpindi. "He is much better than those who had looted nation's wealth in the past."