Reflecting both a cynicism that their vote will be jiggered with by President Musharraf and a genuine fear of terrorism, Pakistani voters stayed home in droves today while the vote for a new parliament was conducted:

A number of clashes among polling officials and voters resulted in 10 people killed and 70 injured, according to Pakistani television channels.

Voter turnout was low; in the North-West Frontier Province, which abuts the lawless tribal areas, turnout was only 20 percent, according to election officials. In Peshawar, the provincial capital, Islamic militants prevented many women from voting. Election official estimated that only 523 of 6,431 registered female voters at six polling stations cast ballots.

In Lahore, the political capital of Punjab province, lines were thin, and many voters complained they could not find their names on the voting lists. But as the polls closed at 5 p.m. local time, election officials said that nationwide voting had been relatively calm compared with past elections.