May 11: the day for a democratic transition

Published May 12, 2013
People gather near a polling station in a village near Lahore. —Reuters Photo
People gather near a polling station in a village near Lahore. —Reuters Photo
A flag and a bird fly over a polling station as people wait to cast their votes in a village near Lahore. —Reuters Photo
A flag and a bird fly over a polling station as people wait to cast their votes in a village near Lahore. —Reuters Photo
Pakistani women show their election ink-stained thumbs after casting their ballots at a polling station on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. —AP Photo
Pakistani women show their election ink-stained thumbs after casting their ballots at a polling station on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. —AP Photo
Images mark the difference between various candidates in a ballot. —AFP Photo
Images mark the difference between various candidates in a ballot. —AFP Photo
Former Pakistani Prime Minister and head of the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif (C) is flanked by his brother Shahbaz Sharif (R) as he addresses the supporters after his party’s victory in general election in Lahore. Sharif declared victory for his centre-right party in Pakistan's landmark elections on May 11, as unofficial partial results put him on course to win a historic third term as premier. The result represented a remarkable comeback for a man who was deposed as premier in a 1999 military coup. —AFP Photo
Former Pakistani Prime Minister and head of the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif (C) is flanked by his brother Shahbaz Sharif (R) as he addresses the supporters after his party’s victory in general election in Lahore. Sharif declared victory for his centre-right party in Pakistan's landmark elections on May 11, as unofficial partial results put him on course to win a historic third term as premier. The result represented a remarkable comeback for a man who was deposed as premier in a 1999 military coup. —AFP Photo
Supporters of PML-N party celebrate the primary unofficial results of the country's parliamentary elections at a party office in Lahore, Pakistan. The party, led by two-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has long been considered the front-runner in the race and it appeared to be moving toward a significant victory Saturday based on partial vote counts announced by Pakistan state TV. —AP Photo
Supporters of PML-N party celebrate the primary unofficial results of the country's parliamentary elections at a party office in Lahore, Pakistan. The party, led by two-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has long been considered the front-runner in the race and it appeared to be moving toward a significant victory Saturday based on partial vote counts announced by Pakistan state TV. —AP Photo
Supporters of PTI make the victory sign after polls closed in Rawalpindi. —AFP Photo
Supporters of PTI make the victory sign after polls closed in Rawalpindi. —AFP Photo
Pakistani supporters of Islamic party Jammat-e-Islami (JI) stage a protest in front of a provincial election commission office in Karachi. —AFP Photo
Pakistani supporters of Islamic party Jammat-e-Islami (JI) stage a protest in front of a provincial election commission office in Karachi. —AFP Photo
A supporter of Imran Khan, chairman of PTI, flashes the victory sign outside the party's election headquarters as they wait for the results of the general election in Lahore. —Reuters Photo
A supporter of Imran Khan, chairman of PTI, flashes the victory sign outside the party's election headquarters as they wait for the results of the general election in Lahore. —Reuters Photo
Election workers count ballots after polls closed for Pakistan's general elections in Peshawar. —Reuters Photo
Election workers count ballots after polls closed for Pakistan's general elections in Peshawar. —Reuters Photo
Pakistani relatives mourn over the dead body of a blast victim at a hospital following a bomb explosion in Karachi on election day. —AFP Photo
Pakistani relatives mourn over the dead body of a blast victim at a hospital following a bomb explosion in Karachi on election day. —AFP Photo
Voters wait in line under arches at a polling station in Lahore during the general elections in Pakistan. —AFP Photo
Voters wait in line under arches at a polling station in Lahore during the general elections in Pakistan. —AFP Photo
Supporters of PML-N drive through the streets during the general election in Rawalpindi. —AFP Photo
Supporters of PML-N drive through the streets during the general election in Rawalpindi. —AFP Photo
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani casts his vote at a polling station in Multan. —AFP Photo
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani casts his vote at a polling station in Multan. —AFP Photo
An election official marks a voter's thumb with ink for identification as she gets a ballot paper before casting her vote at a polling station in Peshawar. —Reuters Photo
An election official marks a voter's thumb with ink for identification as she gets a ballot paper before casting her vote at a polling station in Peshawar. —Reuters Photo
Pakistani women line up to enter a polling station, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. —AP Photo
Pakistani women line up to enter a polling station, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. —AP Photo

Pakistani voters went to the polls on May 11, braving Taliban threats to cast their ballots in an election marking its first historic democratic transition. Here’s the process from beginning till end. —Photos by Agencies

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