Voting starts in Pakistan poll

Pakistanis began voting today for a new parliament in an election seen as a major step toward democracy but overshadowed by fears of violence and questions about the political survival of President Pervez Musharraf.

Polls opened nationwide at 8am (0300 Irish time), amid tight security after a wave of suicide bombings, and were due to close at 5pm.

The country’s 81 million eligible voters will also choose legislatures in Pakistan’s four provinces.