Pakistan voted for their next president amid poll-related violence that killed 35 people in a suicide attack.
Voting started at 8 in the morning and ended at 6 p.m. local time on over 85,000 polling stations. Several major political parties including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf called for extending the time of voting for about an hour complaining slow voting process. However, Election Commission rejected the calls.
Within first few hours a bomber blew himself outside a polling station in Bhosa Mandi area of Balochistan and killed 31 people. In another attack four more people were killed.
About ten crore people were registered voters and in the 70 years of Pakistan’s history this is the second time people are experiencing democratic transition of power.
Since independence in 1947 the country has seen various coups rule for about half of its history.
Even though the polling stations opened at 8 a.m. to begin with the voting part, voters were seen queuing as early as 7 a.m. at several stations.
PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif voted in the first hour.
He tweeted, “Just cast my vote. High time that all of you came out to vote for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. May this election be a source of peace and stability for the nation.”
Election Commission data reveals 3,459 candidates contested for 272 seats at the lower house.
4,49,465 policemen and more than 3,70,000 military personnel were deployed for peaceful voting.
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