Pakistan poised for crucial election
Millions of Pakistanis are preparing to cast their votes in national and provincial elections on Saturday.
The vote will mark Pakistan's first transition from one civilian government to another in its 66-year history.
However, the run-up to the election has been marred by violence in which more than 100 people have been killed.
Tens of thousands of troops will be deployed at polling stations after the Pakistani Taliban threatened to carry out suicide attacks.
The Taliban on Friday warned voters to boycott polling stations in order to avoid attacks on the offices of political parties.
The militants have been blamed for numerous attacks throughout the campaign on Pakistan's three most prominent liberal parties.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) along with the Karachi-based Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have been singled out for attacks by the Taliban.
As a result, the parties have been forced to curtail their election campaigning.
In contrast the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of Nawaz Sharif and the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party of Imran Khan have been able to campaign without being specifically targeted by militants.
Election officials say electoral rolls have been refreshed and a text messaging service will provide voting information to individuals in a bid to clamp down on corruption.
In previous elections there have been accusations that candidates and some state institutions rigged the vote by setting up ghost polling stations and creating millions of fake voters on the electoral rolls.
However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Friday expressed "acute concern" about the the manner in which the violence has "impaired the fairness of the elections almost beyond repair".
It called on all institutions to "stretch themselves to their absolute limit to ensure security of voters, candidates and polling stations on Saturday so that the people can exercise their right to choose their representatives".
The Taliban threat sparked a major security operation leading up to the vote.
More than 600,000 security and army personnel will be deployed to guard against possible attacks on polling day.
On Thursday, the son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was abducted during a rally.
Opinion polls indicate there could be a record turnout, higher than the 44% in the last elections in 2008.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22487805
Millions of Pakistanis are preparing to cast their votes in national and provincial elections on Saturday.
The vote will mark Pakistan's first transition from one civilian government to another in its 66-year history.
However, the run-up to the election has been marred by violence in which more than 100 people have been killed.
Tens of thousands of troops will be deployed at polling stations after the Pakistani Taliban threatened to carry out suicide attacks.
The Taliban on Friday warned voters to boycott polling stations in order to avoid attacks on the offices of political parties.
The militants have been blamed for numerous attacks throughout the campaign on Pakistan's three most prominent liberal parties.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) along with the Karachi-based Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) have been singled out for attacks by the Taliban.
As a result, the parties have been forced to curtail their election campaigning.
In contrast the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of Nawaz Sharif and the Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party of Imran Khan have been able to campaign without being specifically targeted by militants.
Election officials say electoral rolls have been refreshed and a text messaging service will provide voting information to individuals in a bid to clamp down on corruption.
In previous elections there have been accusations that candidates and some state institutions rigged the vote by setting up ghost polling stations and creating millions of fake voters on the electoral rolls.
However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Friday expressed "acute concern" about the the manner in which the violence has "impaired the fairness of the elections almost beyond repair".
It called on all institutions to "stretch themselves to their absolute limit to ensure security of voters, candidates and polling stations on Saturday so that the people can exercise their right to choose their representatives".
The Taliban threat sparked a major security operation leading up to the vote.
More than 600,000 security and army personnel will be deployed to guard against possible attacks on polling day.
On Thursday, the son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was abducted during a rally.
Opinion polls indicate there could be a record turnout, higher than the 44% in the last elections in 2008.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22487805