“We would like to work with everyone... I remain committed to the policy of political reconciliation in the larger interest of the country.”

Though no major election-related violence took place, tension prevailed in parts of Punjab and Sindh where eight people were killed and 80 persons were injured in clashes between rival political parties, said caretaker Interior minister Hamid Nawaz.

While Geo TV reported that 14 people were killed in violence, Benazir’s husband Asif Ali Zardari claimed 15 PPP workers died today.

In Larkana, Benazir’s sister-in-law Ghinwa Bhutto had an angry verbal exchange with a local PPP leader as she and her daughter accused the PPP of rigging, a charge they denied.

Zardari predicted a PPP win. “Victory is our destiny and we will change the system,” he said as he cast his vote in Nawabshah.

From 8 am onward, women and men were seen queuing up to cast votes at polling stations, some in makeshift tents in the heart of Lahore. The start was sluggish but polling picked up momentum as the day progressed.

Different voters cast votes for different reasons. Katrina Mansoor, a 50-year-old housewife in Lahore, said, “I had to come out to vote since it became difficult running the kitchen in the last few months.” She was referring to the rising prices of essential commodities like edible oil, flour, even vegetables.

Qureish Khattak, a chartered accountant working with a Karachi firm, said, “The economic policies have weakened our currency against the dollar, fuel prices have gone up. How can one not vote in these circumstances?”

... contd.