The election comes amid widespread criticism of Pakistan's electoral processes, lambasted internally and throughout the world for hindering opposition politicians and favoring President Pervez Musharraf.

The Interior Ministry spokesman said that the Army has begun mobilizing troops at or near polling stations across the country, a process that will be completed by February 15.

He said the federal government has placed security forces such as the Rangers and the Frontier Corps at the disposal of provincial governments.

There will be 64,175 polling stations across the country, 1,000 international observers and journalists and 20,000 local observers to monitor elections, the government said.

The vote, originally scheduled for early January, was postponed until February 18 in the wake of the assassination of opposition politician Benazir Bhutto, killed on December 27, 2007 while she was campaigning in Rawalpindi.

The government has condemned recent suicide attacks in Pakistan, part of pre-election violence that is keeping the populace on edge.