Pakistan Elections 2024 LIVE: Polling concludes across Pakistan amid rigging allegations

Pakistan is set to vote on Thursday in an election marred by an increase in terrorist attacks, an economic downturn, and a sharply divided political landscape. Many analysts predict that no obvious winner will be declared. The primary confrontations are anticipated to be between the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), led by three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and candidates supported by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the last national election. The 35-year-old son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has also waged a vigorous campaign as an independent candidate for the highest post. While opponents and observers claim Sharif is receiving support from the generals, Khan believes the military is orchestrating a campaign of intimidation aimed at driving his party out of power. Nearly 650,000 security personnel have been deployed across the nation as officials work to set up polling booths so that more than 12.85 crore registered voters may vote in the general election. The polling will begin at 8 a.m. and will continue uninterrupted until 5.00 p.m.