Pakistanis voted today in the first general election since General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup, with seven people killed and more than 50 wounded in scattered clashes between rival supporters.
Counting started shortly after polls closed at 5 p.m. (1 p.m. Irish time) in an election that is supposed to restore civilian rule in Pakistan. But critics say Gen Musharraf has manipulated the vote in his favour and will retain considerable powers as president.
First results were expected tonight or early tomorrow, but an unofficial exit poll showed the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto taking an early lead in the two most populous provinces.
Although the organisers of the exit poll cautioned against reading too much into the results, a PPP victory would set the scene for an uneasy cohabitation between a military president and a party that has always been one of his fiercest critics.
Unofficial returns also suggested an alliance of religious parties opposed to Musharraf's role in the US-led "war on terrorism" would do well in the less densely populated North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan.
Government and hospital officials said seven people were killed and over 50 injured during clashes at a handful of the 64,000 polling stations around Pakistan and after voting ended.