Pakistan's military leader, President Pervez Musharraf, said on Tuesday he was confident of victory as the country voted in a controversial referendum on whether to extend his rule for five more years. But warnings by his opponents that he was using the machinery of state to influence the result gained more credence as evidence emerged that employees of Pakistan's vast civil service were being pressured into casting their ballot. (Read photo caption) A Reuters team also saw ballot boxes being stuffed with "yes" votes by an official at one polling station in the city of Rawalpindi.

Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in October 1999 but has since become a key U.S. ally in the war on terror, has asked for a mandate to remain in power to continue economic and political reforms and to check religious extremism.

He is expected to win easily -- his strong stance against corruption has won him widespread support - but, according to political analysts, the turnout will be closely watched as a barometer of just how popular he is.

Musharraf has responded to public criticism by removing his military uniform during his referendum campaign.

Pakistan's political parties oppose the referendum as undemocratic and unconstitutional and have called for a boycott, but Musharraf has dismissed them as being divorced from public opinion.

Turnout appeared low in Pakistan's biggest cities of Karachi and Lahore and in many other towns, although it was higher in polling stations near government offices and state institutions. Polls close at 7 p.m. (1300 GMT) and initial results are expected to start coming in the evening.

PHOTO CAPTION

Gen. Pervez Musharraf waves to a crowd gathered outside the polling station where he cast his vote in Rawalpindi, Pakistan Tuesday, April 30, 2002. Pakistanis voted Tuesday on whether to give Musharraf five more years as president, with the main opposition coming from vocal opponents to his crackdown on Islamic militants and backing for the U.S. war on terrorism. Musharraf called the referendum to extend his presidency before that deadline comes up in October, when the first parliamentary elections since the coup are scheduled to be held. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangas