Hundreds of millions of voters in Pakistan cast their votes on Thursday to choose members of the federal parliament, consisting of 336 deputies, in addition to members of regional parliaments. Voting offices were closed according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent.
These elections are taking place amidst security and political tensions, with the expected return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for a fourth term in office.
More than 128 million voters are eligible to participate in the 12th general parliamentary elections, with the next government being formed by the party that secures the support of two-thirds of the deputies.
Around 90,000 polling stations opened their doors to voters, while the Interior Ministry announced the “temporary suspension of mobile phone services” throughout the country during voting hours, citing security reasons.
The country is on high alert with a deployment of the army in polling centers, with tens of thousands of quasi-military forces scattered across Pakistan, and temporary closures of the borders with Iran and Afghanistan.
At least 9 people, including two children, were killed in armed attacks in Pakistan on Thursday. Mobile phone services were temporarily suspended across the country, and some land borders were closed.
The Interior Ministry stated that these measures were taken after at least 26 people were killed in two explosions near the campaign offices of electoral candidates in Balochistan province in the southwest of the country yesterday, with the Islamic State claiming responsibility for the explosions.
The Interior Ministry, on the “X” platform, wrote, “Due to the recent terrorist incidents in the country, precious lives have been lost, and security measures are necessary to maintain order, enforce the law, and deal with potential threats.”
Pakistan is witnessing a state of high alert amidst the deployment of the army at polling centers.
Accusations of Fraud
Voting in Pakistan is taking place amid accusations of fraud leveled by the opposition against the government following a crackdown campaign targeting the Movement for Justice party led by the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The elections are also being held amidst skepticism from human rights organizations about their credibility, following the campaign against Imran Khan’s party.
With the imprisonment of Imran Khan, the ban on his party from organizing election rallies, restrictions on the media covering opposition events, and the Election Commission’s rejection of documents from dozens of party candidates nationwide, the stage is set for the League of Islam Party led by Nawaz Sharif to win the most seats in the federal parliament.
The unofficial preliminary results are expected to be announced shortly after the voting offices close, and the picture is likely to become clear early tomorrow.
In recent days, over 40 people have been killed and dozens more injured in several incidents and bombings linked to the elections, especially in the Balochistan and Khyber regions.
Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, is the fifth most populous country in the world.
