Pakistan Votes

After a delay of six weeks following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto by Islamists, Pakistanis went to the polls under heavy security. While 10 people were killed in scattered attacks, the elections did seem to go off as planned.

It may take some time before the poll results are in for the parliamentary elections, which are to help shepherd the country from military to civilian rule. The Times relates that the turnout was low, without giving any kind of context:

A number of clashes among polling officials and voters resulted in 10 people killed and 70 injured, according to Pakistani television channels.

Voter turnout was low; in the North West Frontier Province, which abuts the lawless tribal areas, turnout was only 20 percent, according to election officials. In Peshawar, the provincial capital, Islamic militants prevented many women from voting. Election official estimated that only 523 of 6,431 registered female voters at six polling stations cast ballots.

In Lahore, the political capital of Punjab province, lines were thin, and many voters complained they could not find their names on the voting lists.

But as the polls closed at 5 p.m. local time, election officials said that nationwide voting had been relatively calm compared to past elections.

“We had more violence in one by-election in Karachi last year than across the country today,” said Staffan Darnolf, the country director for the International Foundation for Election Systems, a non-partisan group based in the United States that has been advising Pakistan for more than year on election procedures.

Let's note that 20% turnout is typical in many US primary elections. Low is a relative standard here, and given the circumstances, things are about as good as they're going to be for a while. You're not going to get a whole lot of women voting in places like the NWFP or Warizistan because the Islamists aren't kind to allowing women to act independently.

The low turnout may help Musharraf's party win the elections. Note that this isn't an election on Musharraf's future, but rather to fill seats in the new Parliament. Also, expect many to question the veracity of the results if Musharraf does win because they don't believe Musharraf can win fairly.

UPDATE:
Here's a good background on the election and what's at stake. (HT: Thanos at LGF)

UPDATE:
Early returns are in and it would appear that the opposition parties have roundly defeated Musharraf's party in the elections.

Though official results would not be announced until Tuesday, early returns indicated that the vote would usher in a prime minister from one of the opposition parties, and opened the prospect of a parliament that would move to undo many of Mr. Musharraf’s policies and that may even try to remove him.

The early edge went to the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, which seemed to benefit from a strong wave of sympathy in reaction to the assassination of its leader, Benazir Bhutto, eight weeks ago, and may be in a position to form the next government.

The results were interpreted here as a repudiation of Mr. Musharraf as well as the Bush administration, which has staunchly backed Mr. Musharraf for eight years as its best bet in the campaign against the Islamic militants in Pakistan. American officials will have little choice now but to seek alternative allies from among the new political forces emerging from the vote.

Politicians and party workers from Mr. Musharraf’s party said the vote was a protest against government policies and the rise in terrorism here, in particular against Mr. Musharraf’s heavy handed way of dealing with militancy and his use of the army against tribesmen in the border areas and against militants in a siege at the Red Mosque here in the capital last summer that left more than 100 dead.

Here's Dawn's election results. Musharraf's party is the PML-Q (Pakistani Muslim League). The PPP is the party formerly led by Benazir Bhutto. The PML-N is the party headed by Nawaz Sharif.

UPDATE:
Metroblogging Islamabad is liveblogging the election returns, and predicts that a powersharing or coalition government will succeed Musharraf. That remains to be seen. (HT: Thanos at LGF)