Pakistan will be holding parliamentary elections on Monday amid escalating unrest and after eight years of military rule.

The elections will feature three principal parties and others vying for the favor of 80 million voters.

Polls see the Pakistan People's Party of recently assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in the lead.

A Pakistan Muslim League (N), which is linked to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif looks to be in second.

In third place is the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), which is aligned with current President Pervez Musharraf. His office is not up for election in Monday's contest.

The election will take place after a suicide bomber on Saturday crashed into the office of an independent parliamentary candidate which killed 37 people.

Western allies have pressured Pakistan to set up a more transparent voting procedures which will be implemented on Monday. However questions about its effectiveness remain.

Pakistan Elections