Pakistan vote-rigging fears

PAKISTANI opposition politicians said yesterday the government planned to rig the vote in general elections today to prevent the creation of a parliament keen to force President Pervez Musharraf from power.

Fears of violence have overshadowed the campaign and are expected to mean a low turnout.



Opposition candidate Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister who was ousted in a 1999 coup by Mr Musharraf, said: "It is more than clear that a massive rigging plan is in place and has been implemented."

If the opposition does as well as opinion polls suggest, a hostile parliament could challenge the validity of Mr Musharraf's re-election in October.