Polls have closed in Pakistan, where voters turned out to elect a new parliament and mark the country's transition from military rule to a democracy. Threats of violence appeared to keep voter turnout low. The vote comes amid concerns of violence and allegations that the results may be rigged.
巴基斯坦选民星期一进行投票，这是这个南亚国家60年来重要的选举之一。就在即将举行选举之际，人们担心发生暴力事件以及投票结果被人操纵。
Officials in Pakistan say more than 80 million voters are eligible to participate in the election to select members of the lower house of Parliament and the nation's four provincial assemblies.
巴基斯坦官员说，8千多万选民将有资格投票选举议会众议员和4个省议会的议员。
The elections are considered critically important to restoring democracy following eight years of military rule under President Pervez Musharraf.
在穆沙拉夫总统实行8年军事统治后，人们认为这些选举对于恢复民主制度是至关重要的。
The voting is occurring against a backdrop of concern about security following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a gun and suicide bombing attack last December.
反对派领袖布托在去年12月发生的枪击和自杀炸弹袭击中遭到暗杀，因此在选举即将举行之际，人们对安全问题感到担忧。
More than 80,000 soldiers and nearly 400,000 police and paramilitary forces are providing security for the polls.
在各投票站，8万多名军人和将近40万名警察和准军事人员担任警戒。
The Pakistan Muslim League-Q, which backs President Musharraf, is facing a major challenge from Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and a faction of the Pakistan Muslim League headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
支持穆沙拉夫总统的巴基斯坦穆斯林联盟(领袖派)所面对的挑战来自布托的巴基斯坦人民党以及前总理谢里夫的巴基斯坦穆斯林联盟派。
Several deaths were reported during sporadic clashes across the country.
据报导，巴基斯坦各地爆发的零星冲突导致数人死亡。
Late Sunday in Lahore unidentified gunmen shot and killed a candidate from Mr. Sharif's party who was running in the provincial elections.
在拉合尔，一名身份不明的枪手星期天夜间开枪打死了谢里夫党内一名参加省议会选举的候选人。
Several American lawmakers are here to observe the elections, including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the co-chair of the Pakistan caucus in the House of Representatives.
几名美国国会议员在伊斯兰堡观察选举，其中包括众议院巴基斯坦小组联合主席西拉.李。
"We are here today to encourage the Pakistani people to accept the call of courage and to vote," she said. "But we also recognize that it is necessary to provide safe and transparent methods of voting and an atmosphere for voting."
他说：“我们今天在这里鼓励巴基斯坦人民鼓起勇气参加投票。但是，我们也注意到，必须提供安全和透明的选举方式和投票环境。”
Mr. Musharraf's presidency is not being contested in this election, but if opposition parties win a two-thirds majority in parliament, they would have enough votes to impeach him.
穆沙拉夫的总统职位在这个选举中不会受到挑战，但如果反对党在议会中赢的三分之二多数，就拥有足够的票数对穆沙拉夫进行弹劾。
Opposition parties are accusing supporters of Mr. Musharraf of trying to rig the elections.
反对党指责穆沙拉夫的支持者试图操纵选举。
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, the director of the independent Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, says he agrees with the allegations.
独立的巴基斯坦立法发展和透明协会的负责人米赫布博说，他认为这种指责是有根据的。
"Whether he will be able to do the Election Day rigging or not remains to be seen," he said. "But the signs are that the government is positioning itself to manipulate the elections."
他说：“穆沙拉夫究竟是否能够操纵选举，还有待观察。但是，迹象表明政府准备操纵选举。”
President Musharraf has repeatedly promised the elections will be free and fair.
沙拉夫总统反复表示，这次选举将是自由和公平的。
With Pakistan facing a growing insurgency by Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants, the vote is expected to be a referendum on General Musharraf.
巴基斯坦面临越来越严重的塔利班和跟基地组织有联系的激进分子的反叛行动。人们把这次选举投票看作是选民对穆沙拉夫总统的全民公决。
Retired Major General Jamshed Ayaz Khan, the president of the independent Institute for Regional Studies, says he believes it will take several months for the political situation in Pakistan to stabilize.
巴基斯坦退休将军，独立的地区研究所主席阿亚兹-汗说，他认为需要好几个月的时间，巴基斯坦的政治形势才能稳定下来。
"Unity does not mean there is no opposition. But it will be a peaceful transfer of power. Then gradually, it will take I think a couple of months, two or three months, gradually moving in that direction where we will have a really good system of parliament," said Khan. "I think it has to be done. It will be done."
他说：“统一团结并不是说没有反对派，而是说权力能够和平交接。因此，我认为需要几个月的时间，大约是两三个月的时间，巴基斯坦才能有一个真正的议会系统。我认为巴基斯坦必须做到这一点。”
Analysts say security concerns are likely to have an impact on turnout, which was about 40-percent in the last national elections in 2002.
分析家们表示，对治安问题的担心有可能对选民投票率造成影响。上一次巴基斯坦全国选举的投票率为40%左右。
Early results are expected by late Monday evening, but final official figures may not be available for several days.
这次选举的最处结果预计星期一晚上可以揭晓。但是，最终的正式选举结果要好几天之后才能得到。 |