Islamabad, Oct 6: Polling for the Pakistan presidential election got underway here today at Parliament House and all four provincial assemblies amid unprecedented security measures.

President Pervez Musharraf, who is seeking a fresh mandate, Pakistan People's Party's Makhdoom Amin Fahim, lawyer's candidate Justice (retd) Wajihuddin and Faryal Talpur are in the fray.

Special sessions of Parliament as well as the respective provincial assemblies have been convened for polling which would continue from 1000 hrs till 1500 hrs.

Election Commission Secretary Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said polling was on at Parliament House here, and at the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan.

Votes would be cast under secret ballot system, he added.

At the Parliament House, where the parliamentarians (Senators and MNAs) would cast their votes, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq would preside over while the sessions of the provincial assemblies would be presided over by the Chief Justices of the respective High Courts at all the four provincial capitals, Mr Dilshad said.

Special security arrangements have been made by the Capital Territory Administration and provincial governments to ensure the smooth conduct of polling process.

Six close circuit cameras have been put in place around Sindh Assembly premises and barricades are in place at the roads leading to the Assembly. Police in strengh have been deployed.

About 5000 policemen were manning Punjab Assembly and Mall Road.


UNI