Pakistan recorded a low 40-45% turnout as polling stations closed Thursday after millions of Pakistanis voted in an election marred by allegations of electoral fraud, candidate harassment, internet and mobile phone services blockade, according to CNN-News18.
People familiar with the developments said Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are currently leading in the polls. It has been alleged that the Pakistan army – long known for meddling in elections – is favouring Nawaz Sharif.
PML-N coalition partner in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, claimed electoral fraud. Rival Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Akhtar Mengal’s Balochistan National Party (BNP) also alleged rigging.
Voting officially ended at 5:00 pm (local time), but officials said anyone inside a polling station premises at the time would be allowed to cast their ballot.
More than 650,000 army, paramilitary and police personnel were deployed to provide security for an election already marred by violence.
Voters and cadres of several political parties were angered by the suspension of mobile and cellular services. The caretaker government said the decision was taken due to terrorist attacks on Wednesday which claimed the lives of 28 people and wounded 30 others two bomb blasts outside the offices of candidates in Balochistan. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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