Too early to predict voter turnout, says Pak CEC

Islamabad, Feb 18 (UNI) Expressing satisfaction over polling that began this morning for general elections in the country, Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq said it was too early to predict the voter turnout.

Polling got underway at 64,176 polling stations across the country amid heightened security with battalions of the Army being deployed to assist the civil administration.

He asked the media to exercise caution while reporting events related to the polls.

Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf cast his vote at a polling station at Bhindara School in Rawalpindi in constituency NA-54 and PP-9.

Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro exercised his franchise in NA-208 Jacobabad-I and PA-14 Jacobabad-II. The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction over the security arrangements and polling process.

UNI XC YA BST1338