Pakistan: Voting closes after a hectic day marred by suicide blast and poll-related violence

People came out in large numbers to cast their vote at a polling station for the parliamentary elections in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 25, 2018.(AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)

New Delhi: Voting in the turbulent Pakistan general elections 2018 came to an end at 6 pm on Wednesday evening, with at least 35 people losing their lives during the day in a suicide blast and a poll-related violence. The voting started at 8 AM local time and ended at 6 PM as per Pakistan’s local time. It is expected that the results will be out within 24 hours of voting.

Voting for PM concludes in Pakistan - #PakistanElections2018

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) July 25, 2018

There were several requests by parties like PTI, PML-N, PPP and the Awami Muslim League, among other parties, to the election commission to consider extending the polling time due to widespread reports of the sluggish polling process. However, the election commission turned down the requests and concluded the voting at the fixed hour. An Islamic State suicide bomber blew himself outside a polling station in Bhosa Mandi area of Balochistan’s Quetta killing 31, including policemen. In yet another poll-related violence, four persons were killed. Pakistan's National Assembly comprises a total of 342 members, of which 272 will be directly elected today whereas the rest - 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for religious minorities - are selected later through proportional representation among parties with more than five per cent of the vote. A party can only form the government if it manages to clinch 172 seats in total. The run-up to the elections has seen a massive crackdown on the media and allegations that the military has secretly backed the campaign of Khan while targeting his political opponents. The military has ruled Pakistan through various coups for nearly half of the country's history since independence in 1947. Even during the civilian rule, the generals have wielded enormous power, setting the agenda for the country's foreign and security policies. The ECP was also criticised for deploying the Army both inside and outside of polling stations. Army chief Gen Bajwa, however, assured that the Army will only perform a facilitative role in the polls and that the polling process is to remain under the control and authority of the ECP. Also get the latest updates of the elections here.  (with PTI inputs)