Pakistan takes stock after violent polls

Newspapers reported at least 29 people were killed during the second stage of voting on Thursday, adding to the 16 killed a week earlier in the first phase of district council elections Musharraf revived to promote grass-roots democracy.

Provincial government officials said the figure was far lower, arguing that many of the killings were unrelated to the election, but whoever's version is closer to the truth the overall levels of violence appeared par for the course for a Pakistan election.

"Six or seven people were killed in Punjab in a few incidents of violence, but overall the election was held in a peaceful environment," Rahim Nawaz Durrani, election commissioner in Punjab province.

Officially, political parties were unable to participate in the elections for 110 councils, but unofficially it has been a different story.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and its junior partners lost no time in declaring themselves winners after the first phase, while opposition parties levelled accusations of ballot box stuffing and other malpractices.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar told the Daily Times that no complaints of rigging had been reported to him.

The turnout was estimated at between 45 and 50 percent and with counting still going on, results are expected to emerge over the weekend.

The Dawn and Jang newspapers both predicted victory for government parties in Punjab and Sindh, the most populous of Pakistan's four provinces.