Polling has begun in historic Pakistan elections to decide the fate of 23,000 candidates who stayed on despite a volatile run-up that saw more than 130 people being killed in a series of terror attacks and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son being abducted.
Millions of Pakistanis are expected to vote in the elections for 342 seats of the National Assembly and 728 seats in the four Provincial Assemblies.
The landmark Parliamentary Elections will elect a new civilian government for the next five years.
The 20-day election campaign ended at midnight on Thursday.
Polling began at 8 am local time and will continue until 5 pm without any break.