Islamabad, 09 Feb (HS): Internet and mobile services have been suspended during the polling for general elections in Pakistan on Thursday. The polling started at 8 am and would end at 5 pm.

Given the violence that erupted in Balochistan on Wednesday Province, 6.50,000 security personnel have been deployed on Thursday for conducting the polling smoothly. At least 25 people died and 42 injured in the twin blasts in Balochistan.

The Founder President of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister Imran Khan is in jail, all eyes are pinned on the election of Nawaz Sharif as the new Prime Minister. His party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to emerge victorious in the elections. Nawaz Sharif also gets the support of the Pakistan Military.

Pakistan People’s Party of Bilawal Bhutto is also in the fray and is another strong candidate for the post of Prime Minister.

More than 12.85 crore voters are exercising their rights for the 266 seats. Punjab province has the maximum number of votes – 7,32,07,896, followed by Sindh – 2,69,94,769, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 2,19,28,199, Balochistan – 53,71,947, Islamabad – 10,83,029.

A total of 5,121 candidates are the fray, which includes 4,803 males, 312 females and two transgenders. In the four Assembly segments, 12,695 candidates are vying for the Assembly seats. This includes 12,123 males, 570 females and two transgenders.

According the Election Commission, 29,985 polling stations are sensitive and 16,766 are very sensitive. Less than 50 percent, 44,000 polling centres are free from any threat.

About 6,50,000 security personnel have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident during the polling.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Ajay Mardikar/ Ajit Tiwari /Manoj