PAKISTAN AT THE POLLS: A growing voice for militants

KARACHI - In the initial stages, the runup to Pakistan's elections scheduled for February 18 was characterized by politicians jockeying to present themselves as the best candidates to fight the United States-led "war on terror".

US officials paid dozens of visits last year to Pakistan in efforts to forge a coalition of liberal and secular parties that would conform to Washington's idea of democracy in the country, and, more importantly, follow the US's regional agenda.

However, at least five major and bloody suicide attacks since November - including the high-profile assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto - have changed the country's political dynamics. The issue now is who will be best to make peace with the Taliban after the country's links with them were severed in the post-September 11, 2001, environment.

The elections are for 272 seats in the Lower House of Parliament (National Assembly) and assemblies in the four provinces. The polls were postponed from January 8 following the killing of Bhutto on December 27. This is not a presidential election - President Pervez Musharraf won a second five-year term from the outgoing Parliament last October.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JB13Df01.html