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Pakistani voters cast ballots in by-elections amid tight security

By ZARAR KHAN,Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, June 27

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Amid tight security, Pakistan held by-elections Thursday to fill five seats in the federal parliament and 25 seats in provincial assemblies.

Polling was postponed for a sixth parliamentary seat in the eastern city of Lahore because of legal wrangling over whether former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is eligible to contest.

The by-elections follow national elections in February that installed a new civilian government opposed to former army strongman President Pervez Musharraf.

Most of the seats were vacant because the original victor won in more than one constituency and had to give up a seat.

Thursday's voting will not affect the balance of power in the 342-member National Assembly, where the Pakistan People's Party of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto controls 123 seats and Sharif's party holds 92 seats.

The two parties are the main partners in a coalition, but Sharif's party has pulled out of the Cabinet over a dispute on how to reinstate senior judges purged by Musharraf last year.

The first unofficial results were expected early Friday.

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