Pak polls off to a slow start

Balloting got off to a slow start today in Pakistan's crucial general election as voters appeared to be wary of violence while the opposition accused the government of rigging the poll, which is viewed as a litmus test for beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf.

Clashes between political workers, forcible stamping of ballots at a handful of polling stations in Sindh and Punjab provinces and two blasts in Balochistan capital Quetta were reported.

An election official was arrested in Shikarpur town in Sindh province after complaints from voters that hundreds of ballot papers were missing from a polling station.

The government, however, said that it was hoping for a "good turnout" by the end of the day, and termed as "unfortunate" opposition's allegations of rigging.

Urban centres did witness some brisk polling with a turnout of about 30 % in cities like Islamabad and Lahore.

In parts of northwestern Pakistan, which witnessed widespread violence during the campaign, very few people were seen exercising their franchise despite the extensive security arrangements made for the crucial polls.

Hours before the polls, southern Balochistan province was rocked by a series of 20 blasts while a PML-N candidate and three other persons were gunned down in two incidents of violence in the central city of Lahore.

PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif blamed Musharraf's main ally PML (Q) for the killing of its candidate Asif Ashraf.

"The ruling party is trying to intimidate voters into staying away. If the opposition fails to get two-third majority it means the polls are rigged," he said.

(Reporting by Rezaul H Laskar)