Edgy Pak goes to the polls

It is the day of reckoning in Pakistan, as the country finally went to polls -- An election most eagerly watched by the world and India. Over 81 million people are eligible to vote in Pakistan's four provinces and seven restive tribal agencies bordering Afghanistan.
Voters will choose 342 members of the National Assembly or Lower House of Parliament and 728 members of Provincial Assemblies. The government has deployed 81,000 troops and nearly 400,000 policemen to ensure security for the polls and President Pervez Musharraf has warned that there will be "zero tolerance" for attempts to disrupt the elections or to organise protests after the results are announced.
The counting of votes will begin by Monday (feb 18) evening and results are expected on Tuesday (Feb 19). The general election is crucial for all the key players, including Musharraf, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and former premier and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif.
Musharraf faces the possibility of impeachment, if the opposition unites to secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. He will then have to bank on the PML-Q, the party which has backed him since 2002, to do well in the polls and to be part of any future coalition.
PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, would aim to to cobble together a coalition to stave off the threat posed to him by the possibility of withdrawal of the National Reconciliation Ordinance, by a law that was passed by Musharraf last year to drop corruption charges against him and Benazir Bhutto.'Prestige at stake'
No one is waiting as eagerly for election day in Pakistan as Pervez Musharraf. Not only are the stakes high for Pakistan but the results could well decide his fate. President Musharraf said, "Presitge is at stake. Peace and harmony is at stake and our future is at stake."
Even though Musharraf has guaranteed free and fair polls, he has already endorsed PML(Q) -- the King's party led by Chaudhury Shujaat Hussain. In fact if anyone can upset his prediction, it is these two men -- Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir's widower and co-chariman of PPP and the supremo of the PML(N) -- Nawaz Sharif.
The two leaders have decided on a pre and post-poll left arrangement, infact, Zardari also issued a dire warning on Sunday (Feb 17). He said that there are forces in the region which can balconise the region. People have asked Zardari that what does he mean by balconisation - where is the force? The force is the vaccumm that will be created if democratic forces balconise the region.
Musharraf does not seem to take Zardari's point lightly, given the fact that if Nawaz & Zardari do come together they will pull the rug from under his feet.However, Musharraf's loyalists, perhaps in a show of bravado more than anything else, have dismissed this possibility.
As the real fear of violence and electoral fraud hangs over polling the nation on the day of polls, there are some voices that have called on the people to boycott the elections. Imran Khan said, "The reason we want the election to be boycotted is because this election will legitimise Musharraf's unconstitutional PCO which has destroyed our justice system."
It look like these elections are going to be a crucial test of the present government, particularly President General Pervez Musharraf, whose political future is linked with this particular electoral process.Edgy Pak goes to pollConsidered as a watershed event in the history of Pakistan, the tense nation goes to polls on Monday (February 18, 2008). As the world will witness the parliamentary elections closely, President Musahrraf faces his litmus test. With violence and rigging fears threatening to cast a shadow over the polls, the big question that exists is, can the country make a smooth transition to civilian rule?
As many as 80 million people are expected to excercise their franchise for the National Parliament and the four Provincial Assemblies with nearly 81,000 troops and 400,000 policemen placed on high alert.
Pakistan's People Party (PPP), Co-Chairman -- Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-(N) leader -- Nawaz Sharif have already cautioned probable chaos and anarchy if the elections were rigged to favour the ruling Pakistan Muslim League. However, Imran Khan's -- Tareek-e-Insaaf has called for a boycott.
A gallup poll has projected a hung Parliament that is expected to only add to the turmoil in the country. The Elections, which were postponed from January 8, followed a violence-marred campaign overshadowed by the assassination of PPP leader -- Benazir Bhutto, a campaign that ended with two suicide attacks on Sunday (Feb 17) that left 50 dead and 100 injured.