ISLAMABAD, 1 May — Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf looked set for a landslide victory in a referendum on extending his presidency as results showed overwhelming support for him, election officials said early today.

In the capital Islamabad, the first major city to return its results, 92 percent of a total of 211,587 votes cast were in Musharraf’s favor. Other results trickling in showed support for Musharraf rarely dipping lower than 98 percent.

In the remote southwestern Balochistan province, the country’s first areas to return results, at least six districts showed Musharraf claiming nearly total victory.

The results, which began to be issued late yesterday and continued through the night, showed Musharraf winning 97 percent with just under 100,000 votes counted. In some areas the "no" vote was in single figures against several thousand "yes" votes.

Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hassan Khan said polling yesterday had passed peacefully. Although no electoral roll exists, officials say some 62 million people aged 18 or over were entitled to vote.

Musharraf is set to win easily. The poll has been boycotted by mainstream political parties who say Musharraf has no constitutional right to cement his place as head of state before national elections to restore civilian rule due in October.

The government described the turnout as "unprecedented" and said it would not be surprised if it topped 30 percent. The main opposition party put turnout at five percent, and said Musharraf had lost all legitimacy and should step down.

People were seen lining up at polling stations before the 9 a.m. (0300 GMT) start, with most saying they wanted Musharraf to stay as president.

Foreign observers say official estimates of a 30 percent-plus turnout would be credible, out of the total electorate of some 70 million people, or half the total population.

An official result is not expected to be announced until later today.

Musharraf, voting just after midday yesterday, said he was "very confident" of a victory to grant him five more years in power.

Earlier, the general’s spokesman, Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi, declared that there had been "an unprecedented turnout...well above 45 to 50 percent - a huge turnout, more than any election we’ve ever had." But Musharraf’s Information Minister Nisar Memon apparently preparing the nation for a very different day insisted that even 25 percent would be enough. After the polling, Memon told a news conference the turnout was unprecedented.

"It was far beyond our expectations," he said. "A silent majority has fully participated in the voting."

But evidence emerged that state machinery was being used to influence the result.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said voting irregularities "exceeded its worst fears" and that "voluntary (voter) turnout was very low". Election officials dismissed opposition claims that the referendum had been rigged, although widespread irregularities, particularly multiple voting, were reported by independent witnesses. (The Independent)