Pakistan is set to decide its fate for the next five years as citizens of the country are thronging polling stations to vote for third consecutive General Election today.
The polling has begun countrywide at scheduled time at 8:00am and will continue without break till 6:00 pm.
All Pakistani citizens, above 18 years age, are casting their votes to elect their representatives for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has registered 105 million voters countrywide including 59,224,262 males and 46,731,145 females for the elections. Voters turnout will be crucial in the polling, as unlike in the past, turnout has been quite low in the past polls with highest 64 per cent last recorded in the 1970 elections.
Live Updates
11:45am: Imran Khan casts vote in NA-53
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan cast his vote at Dhoke Jilani polling station. Speaking to newsmen on the occasion, he urged that people should come out and vote against those who maintained the status quo.
“It is very crucial election in the history of Pakistan,” he said while underlining the importance of duty to vote. About the results of the election, Khan prayed: “Whoever is better for the country may win.”
11:35am: CJP Nisar casts vote
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar just cast his ballot at a polling station in Lahore.
After casting vote, he headed towards to the Supreme Court registry in the provincial capital where he will take up cases today despite a holiday announced by the ECP on account of the general elections.
11:25am (Blast Update): 22 dead, 28 injured in Quetta explosion
At least 22 people were killed and 28 others injured in a bomb blast in the Eastern Bypass area of Quetta this morning.
Sources at the Civil Hospital, Quetta confirmed that 22 people have died in the explosion while 28 others wounded. The blast is said to have occurred outside a polling station in NA-260.
Police and rescue teams have reached the blast site and are shifting the deceased and the injured to a nearby medical facility.
11:15am: President Mamnoon casts his ballot
President Mamnoon Hussain cast his vote at a Karachi polling station. After the general elections, the presidential elections are due in Pakistan on or before 10 August 2018. Mamnoon Hussain is the 12th head of state.
11:05am: 4 dead, 16 injured in Quetta blast
At least four people were killed and 16 others injured in a bomb blast in the Eastern Bypass area of Quetta.
The blast is said to have occurred outside a polling station in NA-260.
Police and rescue teams have reached the blast site and are shifting the deceased and the injured to a nearby medical facility.
10:55am: Mustafa Kamal casts vote
Chairman of the newly-formed Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Mustafa Kamal cast his vote in Karachi.
The PSP is taking part in the electoral fray for the first time. An interesting contest is expected between the PSP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) in NA-253, Karachi Central-I.
10:45am: Farooq Sattar casts his vote
Former MQM-P convener Farooq Sattar reached National School in PIB colony to cast his vote. His wife accompanied him to the polling station where she also cast her vote.
He expressed confidence that he would win NA-247 election by beating PTI’s Arif Alvi and other candidates in Karachi.
10:35am: 4 injured in cracker attack near PPP camp in Larkana
Four people were reportedly injured when a cracker was hurled at Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) camp outside Shah Muhammad Primary School polling station in NA-200, Larkana.
The polling process came to a halt as a result of the incident. The injured were shifted to a hospital.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is contesting from this constituency. A tough contest is expected between the PPP leader and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) candidate Rashid Soomro who also enjoys the support of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).
10:25am: PTI worker killed in Swabi firing
In a first gloomy incident on the election day, a person was killed when workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Awami National Party (ANP) exchanged fire in Swabi district’s Nawa Kili area.
Police said the deceased is a PTI worker whose identity could not be ascertained immediately. Three other people were also injured who have been shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
10:15am: ECP secretary visits complaint cell
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob visited a complaint cell in Islamabad this morning to inspect arrangements there.
Talking to reporters, he said all election-related complaints received from voters will be addressed by the cell. He said the Commission is an independent and responsible institution.
10:05am: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman casts vote
Chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman cast his vote in NA-238 Dera Ismail Khan.
Speaking on the occasion, he underlined that it is important to exercise right to franchise.
9:55am: Political workers clash in Karachi’s Landhi
Workers of two rival political parties clashed in Qazafi town of Karachi. However, there were no reports of anyone receiving injuries as a result of the brawl.
The Rangers personnel timely intervened and dispersed the furious workers and restored peaceful environment in the area of Landhi for the smooth conduct of the polls.
9:45am: Matiari polling stations short of election material
A number of polling stations in Matiari district are experiencing problems owing to the shortage of electoral material. The polling station 50 and 51 do not have complete electoral material as yet due to which the polling process could not be started at these stations.
A presiding officer at one of these stations complained how is it possible for the election staff there to commence voting, if they don’t have adequate facilities.
9:35am: Suspicious man barred from entering Lyari polling booth
A suspicious-looking man made an attempt to enter the polling station in Bihar Colony of Lyari. He pretended to be a police officer when security personnel barred him from going inside the station. The polling process was halted for 20 minutes afterwards.
9:30am: Bakhtawar, Aseefa cast votes
Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the daughters of former president Asif Ali Zardari, just cast their ballots in Nawabshah. The former head of state is contesting from a National Assembly constituency in Benazirabad (Nawabshah).
9:20am: Polling picks up
Though voting for 11th general elections started slowly but it now seems to be picking up as long queues of voters are seen at many polling stations across the country, according to ARY News correspondents.
Many people waiting outside polling booths grumbled about election staff commencing the voting process late by up to 30 minutes.
9:10am: PTI’s Yasmeen Rashid casts vote
Yasmeen Rashid, a prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, cast her vote in Lahore. She seemed confident about her party’s victory in the general elections. “Public should come out to cast vote for their favorite leader,” she urged.
Yasmeen is vying for the seat of Lahore’s NA-125.
9:00am: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Khursheed Shah cast vote
Former National Assembly speaker and PML-N leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq cast his ballot in Garhi Shahu, Lahore. Whereas, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Khursheed Shah exercised his right to vote in NA-207, Sukkur.
8:55am: Shehbaz Sharif casts his ballot
PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has just cast his vote in the constituency of NA-130, Lahore.
He reached the polling booth along with his family members. The former Punjab chief minister is contesting the election from NA-3, Swat-II, NA-132, Lahore 10, NA-249, Karachi West 2, NA-192, DG Khan 4, PP-164, Lahore, and PP-165, Lahore 22.
8:45am: ECP receives complaints about vote transfer
As the polling is on across the country, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has so far received six complaints about registration or transfer of votes to far-off places or voters going missing from lists. 
8:35am: Power cuts hit several polling stations
Despite promises of uninterrupted power supply on the polling day, one of the polling booths in NA-236 (Malir-I) is experiencing load shedding. Polling staff was seen complaining that they are forced to go about their work without electricity. Owing to power outage, CCTV cameras installed at the station have also become non-functional.
8:30am: PTI leader Asad Umar casts his vote
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar cast his vote at a polling station in NA-54, Islamabad, a National Assembly seat he is vying for. He told reporters that his party is going to form the next government at the Centre.
He expressed the optimism that after today’s election, Pakistan will head in the right direction.
8:20am: Polling couldn’t begin in parts of country
There are reports that voting has yet not begun at several polling stations in different parts of the country as election staff is said to be absent at some polling booths despite passage of more than 20 minutes.
8:10am: First vote cast in Karachi’s NA-236
As the polling for the 2018 general elections opened, the first vote was cast at a polling station in NA-236, Karachi. A large number of voters have lined up outside the polling booth waiting for their turn to exercise their right to franchise.
8:00am: Polling time begins
The polling has begun across different polling stations countrywide, however majority of the polling stations haven’t yet witnessed a large turnout. People may leave homes to exercise their right to ballot as the time passes.
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