Millions of Pakistanis began voting in general polls on Wednesday to choose a new parliament and provincial assemblies in an election seen as a two-way race between parties led by former cricketer Imran Khan and jailed ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Opinion polls in the run up to the Pakistan assembly election have put Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf a little ahead of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the third place.

Thousands of candidates belonging to extremist and militant sectarian groups are also contesting the general elections in Pakistan.

Live Updates on Pakistan Election 2018:

8:40pm IST PTI leads in Rajanpur NA-193: PTI’s Sardar Jafar Laghari leads the polls in NA-193 Rajanpur-1 with 4343 votes. Laghari is followed by independent candidate Sher Ali Gorchani, who has so far secured 3836 votes, reports Geo TV.





8:35pm IST PML-N throws up tough challenge NA-125: PML-N’s Waheed Alam leads the polls in NA-125 Lahore with 2,313 votes. Alam is followed by PTI’s Yasmin Rashid who has so far bagged 673 votes. NA-128: PML-N’s Rohail Asghar leads in NA-128 election with 88 votes, followed by PTI’s Aijaz Ahmed with 41 votes.





8:30pm IST Initial results NA-248: PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel leads polls in NA-248 Karachi West with 61 votes, followed by PTI’s Sardar Aziz, who has so far secured 50 votes. NA-124: PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz leads in NA-124 Lahore-2 polls with 9545 votes. The son of former Punjab CM is followed by PTI’s Nauman Qaisar, who has so far bagged 5221 votes.





8:27pm IST PTI and PML-N in neck and neck race PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar leads in NA-59 Rawalpindi, PTI’s Muhammad Shafiq leads in NA-161 Lodhran-2, PML-N’s Amir Muqam leads in NA-29, reports Geo news, citing unofficial results from 0.33% polling stations.





8:25pm IST Imran Khan leads PTI chairman Imran Khan leading in NA-95 Mianwali, reports Geo News, citing unofficial results from 3.78% polling stations.





8:20pm IST PPP leads in Chitral NA-1 Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: PPP ahead, reports Dawn. Saleem Khan (PPP): 239 votes Moulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali (MMAP): 188 votes Results from: 139/294 polling stations





8:05pm IST Election commission summons Imran Khan PTI chief Imran Khan has been summoned by the election commission to appear before it on Monday for allegedly breaching the secrecy of ballot while casting his vote at a polling station of a Islamabad parliamentary seat, from where he is contesting the general elections, according to media reports.





8:02pm IST PTI, PML-N candidates lead Unofficial and unconfirmed results from different constituencies have started pouring in, reports GeoTV. PTI’s Amjad Ali Khan leads the polls in NA-96 Mianwali with 1,177 votes, followed by PML-N’s Mohammad Humair Hayat Khan, who has so far bagged 342 votes. PPP’s Khursheed Shah leads with 627 votes NA-206 SUKKUR-1, followed by PTI’s Tahir Hussain with 40 votes. PPP’s Nafisa Shah leads with 438 votes in NA-208 Khairpur-1. GDA’s Ghaus Ali Shah follows Shah with 67 votes.





8:00pm IST Initial trends Unofficial and unconfirmed results from different constituencies have started pouring in, reports GeoTV. PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal leads in NA-78 Narowal-2 with 313 votes. Iqbal is followed by Abrarul Haq, who has so far secured 103 votes. PTI’s Ghulam Bibi Bhirwana leads NA-115 Jhang-2 polls with 71 votes. Bhirwana is followed by independent candidate Mohammad Ahmed, who has so far secured 50 votes.





7:45pm IST Previous opinion poll A poll carried out earlier this month on 3,752 people showed Khan’s PTI was ahead by 4%. The latest opinion polls have hinted at a possible coalition with the PPP, as neither Khan nor Sharif seem likely to win a clear majority.





7:40pm IST Chinese envoy congratulates Pakistanis Lijian Zhao, the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy in Pakistan, has tweeted his appreciation to the Pakistani people for the election.





7:40pm IST Election body chief addresses media The chief election commissioner of Pakistan addressed the media after polling ended.





7:35pm IST Media personnel barred Pakistan Army personnel did not allow media persons to enter polling stations in Lahore and some other parts of Punjab province after 3 pm today, reports PTI.





7:35pm IST Minorities not allowed to vote Minority community members were not allowed to cast their votes in a constituency in Islamabad, a media report said. The incident occured in NA-54 constituency, Dawn reported. Hindus, Christians and Ahmadis and other religious groups in Pakistan are routinely discriminated against.





7:30pm IST Reham Khan tweets poll selfie Reham Khan, a Pakistani journalist and the second wife of PTI chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday cast her vote, saying she voted for ‘billi’ (tiger). Is wari......Billi pic.twitter.com/X0SacWmyMQ — Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 25, 2018





7:25pm IST Namesakes who cast their votes Two brothers, who share the names of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, cast their vote on Wednesday. Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif, whose father named them because of his love for the party, voted from the NA-194, Rajanpur 2 constituency, reported Geo News.





7:20pm IST Results Results likely to be known by 2am local time on Thursday (2100 GMT Wednesday), reports Reuters.





7:15pm IST Counting begins across Pak Counting begins in polling centres across Pakistan, reports Dawn.





6:50pm IST PTI and PML-N workers clash A brawl erupted between PTI and PML-N workers outside NA-62 Rawalpindi’s Govt. Postgraduate College, Satellite Town polling station, reports Dawn. New Town police had to be summoned to secure the area.





6:45pm IST Presiding officer abducted Unknown persons have kidnapped the presiding officer of a polling station in Chaman area of Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district, Radio Pakistan has reported. In another incident, election material was taken away by miscreants from Killi Gohar in Chaman.





6:45pm IST Counting begins Counting has begun at certain polling stations, reports Dawn. Results cannot be announced before 7pm according to ECP guidelines.





6:40pm IST Voters demand extension of polling time Voters demand extension in polling time at a polling station in Azizabad, Karachi, reports The Express Tribune.





6:35pm IST Polling concludes Polling concludes across country. Those present within premises of polling stations will still be able to cast their vote.





6:30pm IST Toll in Quetta blast goes up to 31 At least 31 people were killed and dozens injured in a suicide bomb attack on a polling station in Quetta. Shoes and charred vehicles littered the blood-smeared road near the polling station in the Balochistan provincial capital Quetta, as the dead and injured were shuttled to hospital accompanied by distraught loved ones.





6:03pm IST 7 injured in clashes between independent, GDA candidates Seven people were injured in clashes between supporters of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate Shehzad Mehar and an independent candidate Ameer Jatoi,Dawn reports.





6:01pm IST Democratic Pakistan in best interest of India: Mehbooba Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today said a democratic Pakistan is in the best interest of India and expressed hope that election there would lead to a stable government, reports PTI.





5:57pm IST Two election officers arrested for violating ECP code in Quetta A presiding officer and assistant presiding officer were arrested for violating the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct, according to Quetta deputy commissioner, reports ARY news.





5:50pm IST Islamabad Police increase security at Imran Khan’s residence Islamabad Police have increased security outside PTI chief Imran Khan’s residence in Bani Gala. Islamabad SSP told Geo News the measure has been taken in light of threats, adding that security of all election candidates in the capital has been increased, reports Geo news.





5:49pm IST Case registered against PML-N candidate for allegedly harassing polling staff Police in Dera Ghazi Khan, acting on a regional presiding officer’s request, has registered a case against PML-N candidate Jamal Khan for allegedly harassing the polling staff, reports Dawn.





5:45pm IST Polling enters final hour As polling enters final hour, long queues seen across Karachi NA-248 polling stations.





5:35pm IST Election Commission rejects requests to increase polling time The Election Commission has once again rejected requests to extend the polling time. ECP has said polling time will not be extended. All those inside the polling station by 6:00pm will be allowed to cast their votes.





5:24pm IST Political parties seek hour’s extension PML-N leader Mushahid Hussain Sayed, in a press conference, seeks an hour’s extension in the polling deadline: Geo news PPP leader Farhatullah Babar has also sought from ECP an hour’s extension in the polling deadline: Geo news Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed pleads CEC to extend polling time by an hour, blaming the ‘slow voting process’: Geo news





5:22pm IST 150 votes cast in a Karachi constituency Only 150 votes cast in Karachi NA-250 till 4pm, reports Express Tribune





5:19pm IST Mirpur Khas: NA-218 candidate complains of receiving threatening calls from rival An independent candidate named Laila in NA-218 has claimed that she is receiving threatening phone calls from her rival candidate, reports Dawn.





5:18pm IST 7 hours on, voting yet to begin at N. Waziristan polling station A large number of voters are still waiting outside a polling station in tehsil Shewa of North Waziristan to exercise their right to franchise as the polling couldn’t begin there despite passage of seven hours. According to the polling staff, voting couldn’t start owing to absence of poll stamp, reports ARY news.





5:14pm IST PML-N to hold ‘emergency’ press conference shortly Geo news reports that PML-N leaders will be holding what has been described as an ‘emregency’ press conference shortly. They are expected to list complaints received from across the country and seek an extension in the polling deadline.





5:10pm IST BAP, PTI clashes leave 15 injured The workers of Balochistan Awami Party and Pakistani Tehreek-i-Insaf have reportedly clashed in Jafarabad district of Balochistan. The clashes have left 15 people injured, reports Dawn.





5:05pm IST No women vote in Toba Tek Singh’s Devi Das Pura village Of the 860 registered women voters in Toba Tek Singh’s Devi Das Pura village, not a single woman cast her vote, reports Geo news.





4:55pm IST CEC to announce first poll result Dawn reports that Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan will announce the first poll results after balloting time ends at 6pm, said the Election Commission of Pakistan. According to ECP, the time for announcing poll result will be decided by 7pm.





4:50pm IST Kohistan: 7 injured in NA-11’s Jijal area At least seven people were injured after a scuffle broke out between two different groups of independent candidates in Jijal area of NA-11 Kohistan, reports Dawn.





4:45pm IST Karachi: Turnout high in MQM’s home turf despite calls for boycott Dawn quoting BBC Urdu reports a high turnout of voters in Azizabad, the home turf of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, despite a call for boycott from Altaf Hussain. A voter walks next to a police officer as she prepares to cast her vote during the general election in Karachi, Pakistan, July 25, 2018. ( REUTERS )





4:40pm IST Polls already controversial due to slow voting: Abbasi Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has claimed that the ongoing elections are already controversial due to slow polling procedure, reports Dawn.





4:35pm IST Balochistan Awami Party candidate Nawaz Chengaiz Marri alleges rigging Balochistan Awami Party candidate Nawaz Chengaiz Marri alleges rigging in his constituency. The BAP candidate for PB-9 has alleged that more than 400 voters have not been allowed to cast their votes, reports Express Tribune.





4:32pm IST No facilities for handicapped citizens, says wheelchair bound activist but he rudely replied that he cannot arrange on ground floor and it’s ok if we don’t vote. In the end my sister and helper picked up the wheelchair and I casted my vote. — Amna Raheel. (@_amurr) July 25, 2018





4:30pm IST Guess who Reham Khan’s voting for? (Hint: it isn’t PTI) While it isn’t clear whom she voted for, people are construing the tweet to mean that she voted for PML-N, whose election symbol is a tiger. Is wari......Billi pic.twitter.com/X0SacWmyMQ — Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 25, 2018





4:25pm IST Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari posts picture of former president Asif Ali Zardari post-vote Pres #Zardari just voted in #Nawabshah - once victorious will become a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan & will be joining @BBhuttoZardari in #Parliament inshAllah ✌️💘 pic.twitter.com/bfufsG2e8x — Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 25, 2018





4:20pm IST ECP rejects PML-N plea to extend voting time The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected a request by the PML-N to extend polling time by an hour, reports ARY News.





4:11pm IST Presiding officer dies Layyah NA-187 polling station presiding officer dies post cardiac arrest, reports The Express Tribune.





4:10pm IST Shehbaz tweets mom’s pic Shehbaz Sharif tweets pic of his mother casting vote. My mother ❤️ pic.twitter.com/KpHRNfYto4 — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 25, 2018





4:04pm IST Fisticuffs between PML-N and PTI candidates A PML-N candidate has physically attacked a PTI candidate in Lahore. Both were reportedly contesting the NA-128 constituency. Polling has been suspended. Six people are in custody, reports Dawn.





4:03pm IST Sarfaraz casts vote Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed casts vote in Karachi, reports Express Tribune





4:02pm IST Four voters dead as jeep falls into gorge A mini jeep taking voters to polling stations in Allai tehsil of Battagram District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has fallen into a deep gorge, resulting in the death of four people, reports Dawn.





4:00pm IST Zardari casts vote Former president Asif Ali Zardari casts vote at NA-213 Benazirabad polling station, reports The Express Tribune.





3:57pm IST PPP leaders shot PPP leaders Azizullah Mangi and Siddique Mahesar injured by firing at a polling station in PS-84 Dadu. Shifted to hospital in Larkana for medical treatment, reports The Express Tribune.





3:49pm IST Voter jailed for filming his casting vote A voter, Waseem Qureshi, was taken into custody after he filmed while he cast his ballot in NA-170 and PS-246, Bahawalpur, and posted the video on social media, reports ARY news.





3:45pm IST Pakistan Army spokesperson comes out to vote COAS & his Mrs cast vote at Rwp.

"We are target of inimical forces working against Pak. We’ve come a long way in our comprehensive national effort to fail them. We are united & steadfast to defeat them, and ‘TODAY’ through our ‘VOTES’. Please come out & vote undeterred", COAS. pic.twitter.com/J9DjRVNUAQ — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) July 25, 2018





3:44pm IST Former cricketer Wasim Akram casts vote Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram casts vote at Lahore NA-126 poling station. I casted my vote today really proud to be Pakistani . pic.twitter.com/Emzgul9CKQ — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) July 25, 2018





3:40pm IST Chakwal: Women sent back from polling station without being allowed to vote Female voters were sent back without being allowed to vote in Chakwal’s Dharnal area, Dawn said, quoting BBC Urdu reports. The men present at the polling station reportedly told a BBC Urdu correspondent that they had sent the women back because “it is un-Islamic for women to vote”.





3:35pm IST 300 fake votes allegedly cast in NA-102 Three hundred Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) were reportedly purchased in Jaranwala’s NA-102. According to details, the purchased CNICs were allegedly used to cast votes in the elections, ARY news.





3:26pm IST ECP’s Results Transmission System gets activated The Election Commission of Pakistan’s Results Transmission System (RTS) has been activated, according to DawnNewsTV. The RTS is an Android application which enables election officers to send the results to the ECP in real time.





3:25pm IST Mandi Bahauddin: No female turns up to vote in one NA-86 polling station No female voter has reportedly turned up to vote so far in NA-86 Mandi Bahauddin’s Ghoghanwali area. A total of 799 female voters are registered at the polling station number 102 of the constituency but none of them have been able to cast their vote so far, Dawn.





3:20pm IST PTI rubbishes media reports stating that vote cast by Imran Khan is in danger of being void PTI has issued a response saying that the party chief has not violated any election rules and has urged the ECP to take notice of the news circulating in this regard and present true facts to the public, reports Dawn.





3:15pm IST Voting yet to begin at a polling station in NA-72, Sialkot In a government school of Gulbahar in Sialkot (NA-72), polling is yet to start with a delay of more than five hours, ARY news.





3:12pm IST Voting starts after 1pm in Karachi Polling kicks off after 1pm at two Karachi NA-241 polling stations, reports Express Tribune.





3:06pm IST PML-N approaches ECP to extend voting time PML-N has written to the ECP seeking an extension in polling time for one hour owing to ‘long queues outside polling stations, GEO news.





3:03pm IST Armed man nabbed Police claim to nab armed man from Sargodha NA-89 polling station. Pistol, bullets seized, reports The Express Tribune.





3:00pm IST ECP receives 560 complaints Election Commission of Pakistan receives 560 complaints: ARY News





2:55pm IST Clashes in Sahiwal and Kot Radha Kashan leave 5 injured A total of five people have reportedly been injured as a result of two separate clashes in Sahiwal and Kot Radha Kashan, according to Dawn.





2:45pm IST Mohmand: Women get out to vote for the first time Women in Bayzai sub-division of Mohmand Tribal District (ex-Fata), 5 kilometres from the Afghan border got out to vote for the first time. (My hometown as well) #GeneralElection2018 pic.twitter.com/uTgBr2xMQ3 — Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) July 25, 2018





2:35pm IST Khanewal: PTI, PML-N workers clash over voting A fight broke out between PTI and PML-N workers after voters were allegedly forced to cast votes in Chak 168/10R in NA-151, Khanewal. Workers of both parties were reportedly armed with sticks and batons, reports Dawn.





2:28pm IST Complains of slow polling PTI claims receiving complaints about ‘slow polling’ in Rawalpindi NA-61, reports The Express Tribune. PTI leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has alleged that the polling process was deliberately delayed in Sialkot, Dawn reports.





2:25pm IST Khawaja Asif casts vote Former foreign minister Khawaja Asif casts vote at Sialkot NA-73 polling station, Dawn reports.





2:20pm IST Voting halted in Dir Voting halted at a polling station in NA-5 Upper Dir after rigging allegations by JI polling agent, The Express Tribune reports.





2:10pm IST Hina Rabbani Khar claims ECP’s behaviour is ‘biased and unsatisfactory’ Former finance minister Hina Rabbani Khar has criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan for what she says is “biased and unsatisfactory” behaviour, Dawn reports.





2:05pm IST 3 female voters injured as wall collapses at a polling station Three female voters have reportedly been injured as a wall collapsed at a polling station in Khairpur’s NA-208 constituency, according to Dawn.





2:00pm IST South Waziristan participate in Elections After years of conflict, people in South Waziristan participate in the electoral process, Express Tribune. Women, clad in burqas, stand in line to cast their ballot at a polling station during general election in Peshawar, Pakistan July 25, 2018. ( REUTERS )





1:53pm IST Polling staff told to facilitate senior citizens, disabled and pregnant women ECP has issued directives to all returning & presiding officers across Pakistan to facilitate elderly citizens, people with disability, & pregnant women to vote on priority basis. These people should not be made standing in long queues & their vote should be cast on top priority. pic.twitter.com/3DSKbLdp0C — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) July 25, 2018





1:50pm IST Police review security at polling booths Police review security arrangements across Lahore polling stations





1:45 IST Transgender barred from polling Dozens of trans observers barred from entering Peshawar polling stations despite possessing valid documents.





1:40pm IST Clashes reported in Matiari At least three injured as PPP and GDA workers clash in Matiari. Both sides reportedly used axes.





1:38pm IST Balochistan National Party-Mengal alleges rigging Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) alleges rigging in a letter to the ECP. The party claims rigging is being done to favour Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) candidates in PB-47 and NA-271, reports The Express Tribune.





1:28pm IST Imran Khan’s NA-53 vote may be cancelled, ECP takes notice Express News is reporting that the ECP has taken notice of Imran Khan’s vote in NA-53, as the PTI Chairman’s voting exercise was captured on video, violating the ECP’s “secrecy of ballot” code.





1:25pm IST Restaurants offer free food deals to motivate people to vote More than 20 popular eateries were offering meal deals and citizens will only have to show their “inky thumb” as proof to have fulfilled their civic duty, Geo News reported. A woman receives an ink mark on her thumb before casting her ballot during general election, at a polling station in Peshawar, Pakistan July 25, 2018. ( REUTERS Photo )





1:24pm IST ECP takes notice of political leaders’ media talks The Election Commission of Pakistan takes notice of live media talks by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and party leader Khawaja Asif, reports ARY news.





1:22pm IST Low women voter turnout to result in cancellation of polling station’s vote count: ECP Any polling station where women’s votes are polled less than 10% of the overall votes cast will have its results cancelled, the Election Commission of Pakistan has notified. The 10% requirement is part of election laws governing the process, Dawn reports.





1:20pm IST Quetta: Voting resumes at Tameer-e-Nau polling station Polling has resumed at Quetta’s Tameer-e-Nau Model School polling station earlier hit by a deadly suicide blast. The blast targeted a police van which was passing by on a road near the polling station in NA-260, Dawn.





1:18pm IST Violation of Election code of conduct PTI workers reportedly violate ECP code of conduct, mobile phones used to click pictures of NA-28 and 25 ballot papers, The Express Tribune reports. Voters in Pervaiz Khattak’s constituency allegedly carried ballot papers out of a polling station, in clear violation of ECP rules and election laws., reports Dawn.





1:15pm IST Bilawal Bhutto under scanner ECP takes notice of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s post-vote speech, reports The Express Tribune. Speaking to media on the occasion, he said today is an opportunity to elect our leadership and urged voters to come out to exercise their right to franchise, ARY News reports.





1:12pm IST Low women voter turnout in K-P Poor women voter turnout in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Express News reports.





1:07pm IST Islamic State claims attack Islamic State claims responsibility for blast in Quetta, according to AMAQ news agency.





12:55pm IST Two fake poll officers held in Chaman Two people pretending to be assistant presiding officers were arrested in Chaman. The law enforcement agencies apprehended the two from Polling Station No-181 located in Qila Abdullah district, reports ARY news.





12:50pm IST ECP takes notice of airtime given to candidates The Election Commission of Pakistan has taken notice of airtime and coverage given to Imran Khan, Khawaja Asif and Shahbaz Sharif. It has placed a ban on any further coverage of candidates standing for the election till the results are compiled, reports Dawn.





12:40pm IST Bilawal Bhutto casts vote PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto cast vote at Larkana NA-200 polling station. Voted! Every vote counts. #DemocracyistheBestRevenge pic.twitter.com/81iq5xSDWy — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 25, 2018





12:28pm IST 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, reports ARY news.





12:25pm IST Women cast votes in Chakwal after 40 years Women come out of their homes after 40 years to cast votes in Union Council Dhoolar in Chakwal’s Talagang district, reports Geo news.





12:17pm IST Islamabad: Ahmadiyya voters diverted to separate polling booths in NA-53 Voters from the Ahmadiyya community are being told to use separate polling booths to cast their vote in NA-53, Islamabad, reports Dawn.





12:16pm IST Violence reported in Balochistan Naseerabad, Balochistan: Ropashakh Akbar polling station fired on, two injured, reports Dawn.





12:05pm IST Imran Khan casts vote Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan cast his vote in NA-53, the constituency from where he is also contesting polls. The politician urged Pakistanis to vote regardless of who they were supporting. “I don’t ask you to cast your votes for PTI, just cast get out of your houses and do your duty to the country,” he said. ECP takes notice of PTI chairman Imran Khan’s post vote speech, reports PTV. Cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), speaks to members of media after casting his vote at a polling station during the general election in Islamabad, Pakistan, July 25, 2018. ( REUTERS )





11:46am IST Hafiz Saeed casts his vote Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and Mumbai 26/11 attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed casts his vote at a polling booth in Lahore. #PakistanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/nKdXt3kQZA — ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018





11:40am IST 29 killed in Quetta blast A blast killed at least 29 people in Pakistan’s western city of Quetta on Wednesday in an attack targeting a police van, according to Reuters. A Pakistani police officer (L) pushes a stretcher carrying an injured policeman at a hospital after a suicide attack near a polling station in Quetta on July 25, 2018. ( AFP ) Condemnable terrorist attack in Quetta by enemies of Pak seeking to disrupt our democratic process. Saddened by the loss of innocent lives. Pakistanis must defeat the terrorists' design by coming out in strength to cast their vote. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 25, 2018 Heart broken to learn of martyrdom of innocent people including police officials & injuries sustained by others in a terrorist attack in Quetta at a time when the people are exercising their democratic right of vote. My profound condolences to the bereaved families. — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 25, 2018





11:29am IST Three wounded in Larkana explosion At least three people were injured after an explosion was reported outside a polling station in Larkana’s NA-200 constituency, near Shah Muhammad School. DIG Akbar Riaz told Geo News the cracker blast targeted a PPP camp, adding that despite the attack polling continued. Polling resumes in Larkana NA-200 post explosion, reports GEO news.





11:25am IST Senator Rehman Malik casts his vote I Voted this morning and it was so peaceful and friendly atmosphere there /for the first time I saw Pakistan voting with spirit of unity . Great national spirt seen here.I noticed with great pleasure that there is more turn out of of our Woman voters in the said P/station. pic.twitter.com/KyrPOtwq4q — Senator Rehman Malik (@SenRehmanMalik) July 25, 2018





11:15am IST Women barred from voting Women being barred from voting across Peshawar’s NA-29 and PK-71, reports ARY news.





10:57am IST Shahid Khaqan Abbasi casts vote Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi casts vote in the NA-56 constituency.





10:45am IST Violence hits polling station PTI and ANP workers have clashed in Mardan as well, according to our correspondent. Several people have been injured in what was a firing incident. Following the clash, police has taken control of the affected area. Earlier, the two parties’ workers had clashed in Swabi as well, leaving one dead and two injured. One PTI worker has died and two others have been injured in a firing incident related to the clash, Dawn reports.





10:34am IST Islamabad: CEC assures complaints will be addressed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) retired Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza has assured that any problems and irregularities with the polling process will be addressed when complaints are made. The CEC made those remarks after reaching the ECP headquarters in Islamabad, reports ARY news.





10:33am IST Nowshehra: Women being denied the right to vote Women voters are being denied the right to vote in PK-65 constituency of Nowshehra, according to Dawn.





10:32am IST Karachi: Police arrest unidentified man who tried entering a polling station Police have taken into custody an unidentified man who tried entering a polling station in Karachi’s Bihar Colony, which falls under the NA-246 constituency. The man was reportedly trying to cast a counterfeit vote, Dawn reports.





10:09am IST Quetta: Long queues of male and female voters form outside polling stations Long queues can be witnessed outside all polling stations in Quetta. In addition to male voters, long queues of women can also be seen, reports The Express Tribune.





9:52am IST Peshawar: Women come to vote in big numbers A large number of female voters in Peshawar are heading to polling stations to cast their votes, according to our correspondent in the city, reports Dawn.





9:28am IST 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, ARY news report.





9:26am IST Malala Yousafzai urges women voters to vote in large numbers The people of Pakistan - especially women - the power is in your hands. Get up, go and vote! Democracy shall win! #Election2018 🇵🇰🗳 pic.twitter.com/LqVRUK9cjO — Malala (@Malala) July 24, 2018





8:59am IST Jacobabad: Unavailability of ink delays start to voting process In one of the polling stations in Jacobabad, unavailability of ink means that polling has not begun on time, reports Dawn.





8:42am IST PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif arrives to cast vote Lahore: PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif stand in a queue outside a polling station in Model Town to cast his vote for #PakistanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/d6AErF3LSv — ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018



