Sir: With all the violence taking place all over the country in the run-up to the elections, how can we, the citizens of Pakistan, be expected to turn up in significant numbers to cast our votes for democracy? Common Pakistanis have been made victims in the thousands during regular bomb attacks and target killings. We have been subjected to the worst kind of violence, sometimes in the name of politics and sometimes in the name of religion. Now we are expected to turn up on May 11 for the polls but what guarantee do we have that we will be safe? Will there be extra security and protection for us so that there is no untoward incident on the big day? I seriously doubt it. While there is no doubt that there will be a record turnout for these elections, if anyone is harmed or killed, it will be on the hands of the authorities responsible. ATIF SYED Lahore