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| Musharraf party 'lagging in poll' | Musharraf party 'lagging in poll' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani opposition parties are well ahead in the country's elections, President Musharraf's allies say. | Pakistani opposition parties are well ahead in the country's elections, President Musharraf's allies say. |
| The ruling PML-Q would be consigned to the opposition if provisional results - from more than half of seats - were confirmed, said spokesman Tariq Azeem. | The ruling PML-Q would be consigned to the opposition if provisional results - from more than half of seats - were confirmed, said spokesman Tariq Azeem. |
| Supporters of opposition parties including Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the PPP of the late Benazir Bhutto have been celebrating in the streets. | Supporters of opposition parties including Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the PPP of the late Benazir Bhutto have been celebrating in the streets. |
| Mr Musharraf insists he will accept the result, regardless of who wins. | Mr Musharraf insists he will accept the result, regardless of who wins. |
| He is not standing in the parliamentary election himself, but a clear defeat of his supporters could herald struggles over his presidency, analysts suggest. | He is not standing in the parliamentary election himself, but a clear defeat of his supporters could herald struggles over his presidency, analysts suggest. |
| The poll took place on Monday, having been delayed following Ms Bhutto's assassination on 27 December. | The poll took place on Monday, having been delayed following Ms Bhutto's assassination on 27 December. |
| High-profile victims | High-profile victims |
| Unofficial and provisional results showed big gains for Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto's parties. | Unofficial and provisional results showed big gains for Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto's parties. |
| The latest figures appeared to give both parties about 30% of the vote and more than 50 seats each, with Ms Bhutto's party slightly ahead. | The latest figures appeared to give both parties about 30% of the vote and more than 50 seats each, with Ms Bhutto's party slightly ahead. |
| The PML-Q was trailing a distant third, while smaller parties and independents also picked up seats. | The PML-Q was trailing a distant third, while smaller parties and independents also picked up seats. |
| Whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself President Musharraf Analysis: Musharraf reelingPakistani press upbeat | Whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself President Musharraf Analysis: Musharraf reelingPakistani press upbeat |
| "If the results are confirmed we will play the part of the opposition as effectively as we can," Mr Azeem told the AFP news agency. | "If the results are confirmed we will play the part of the opposition as effectively as we can," Mr Azeem told the AFP news agency. |
| Most official counts will not be declared until later on Tuesday. | Most official counts will not be declared until later on Tuesday. |
| But high-profile victims of the poll were reported to include party president Chaudry Shujaat Hussain and his close ally, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid. | But high-profile victims of the poll were reported to include party president Chaudry Shujaat Hussain and his close ally, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid. |
| They were among the PML-Q losses in Punjab, the country's most populous province and a key electoral battleground. | They were among the PML-Q losses in Punjab, the country's most populous province and a key electoral battleground. |
| Pakistani newspapers spoke of a "rout" of Mr Musharraf's allies, with The News proclaiming: "Democracy takes revenge." | Pakistani newspapers spoke of a "rout" of Mr Musharraf's allies, with The News proclaiming: "Democracy takes revenge." |
| "The result will be the voice of the nation and whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself," said Mr Musharraf. | "The result will be the voice of the nation and whosoever wins we should accept it - that includes myself," said Mr Musharraf. |
| Turnout | Turnout |
| Celebrations were continuing in the streets of cities including Lahore, Rapalwindi and Karachi as news of early results trickled out. | Celebrations were continuing in the streets of cities including Lahore, Rapalwindi and Karachi as news of early results trickled out. |
| At least 20 people are reported to have died in election-day violence, with the PPP reporting 15 of its members killed. | At least 20 people are reported to have died in election-day violence, with the PPP reporting 15 of its members killed. |
| Most results were due in byTuesday morning Pakistanis react to poll trendsIn pictures: Ballot count | Most results were due in byTuesday morning Pakistanis react to poll trendsIn pictures: Ballot count |
| There were also reports of missing ballot boxes. | There were also reports of missing ballot boxes. |
| But there was also widespread relief that there were none of the major bomb attacks which had marred the run-up to the election. | But there was also widespread relief that there were none of the major bomb attacks which had marred the run-up to the election. |
| Fears of violence had dissuaded many of the country's 80 million eligible voters from leaving their homes, and voter turnout was estimated to be less than 40%. Close to half a million security personnel, including about 80,000 soldiers, had been deployed to quell any outbreak of fighting. | Fears of violence had dissuaded many of the country's 80 million eligible voters from leaving their homes, and voter turnout was estimated to be less than 40%. Close to half a million security personnel, including about 80,000 soldiers, had been deployed to quell any outbreak of fighting. |
| The wait for news of the next government is the start of fresh uncertainty in Pakistan, says the BBC's Jill McGivering in Karachi. | The wait for news of the next government is the start of fresh uncertainty in Pakistan, says the BBC's Jill McGivering in Karachi. |
| Even once the election results are clear, there will still be plenty of behind-the-scenes bargaining to come, she says. | Even once the election results are clear, there will still be plenty of behind-the-scenes bargaining to come, she says. |
| Future in the balance | Future in the balance |
| Polls suggest a fair vote is likely to result in a hung parliament, with none of the three biggest parties winning a majority, analysts suggest. | Polls suggest a fair vote is likely to result in a hung parliament, with none of the three biggest parties winning a majority, analysts suggest. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI hope that this current election is a positive step towards democracy, peace and economical growthAtif Majid, Kuwait href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4308">Send us your comments'Referendum' on Musharraf? | |
| Attention will then turn on the PPP, and whether it chooses to join forces with pro-Musharraf parties, or with Mr Sharif's party. | Attention will then turn on the PPP, and whether it chooses to join forces with pro-Musharraf parties, or with Mr Sharif's party. |
| Mr Sharif is staunchly opposed to the president, and if the two opposition parties jointly gain two-thirds of the seats, they may try to impeach Mr Musharraf, correspondents say. | Mr Sharif is staunchly opposed to the president, and if the two opposition parties jointly gain two-thirds of the seats, they may try to impeach Mr Musharraf, correspondents say. |
| Mr Musharraf stepped down as army chief late last year. He has ruled the country since seizing power in a coup in 1999. | Mr Musharraf stepped down as army chief late last year. He has ruled the country since seizing power in a coup in 1999. |