There were clashes, terrorist violence and complaints of mismanagement, but millions of Pakistanis defied the odds to go out and cast their ballots in the historic 2018 general elections.
After an acrimonious election campaign, polls opened across the country on Wednesday at 8am and closed at 6pm. The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected the request by several parties to extend the polling time by an hour.
A woman walks out of a polling station holding Pakistan's national flag after casting her ballot in Rawalpindi. — AFP
Voters lineup to cast their ballot outside a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP
An elderly man is assisted by his son as they arrive at a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP
A supporter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrives at a polling station to cast his vote in Lahore. — AP
Voters displaying their marked thumbs after casting their ballots at a polling station in Qasimabad, Hyderabad. — APP
An elderly man shows his inked thump after casting his vote outside a polling station in Lahore. — AFP
An election official marks a voter's thumb before casting her vote at a polling station in Islamabad. — AFP
Voters stand in a queue outside a polling station in Balochistan's Dalbandin area to cast their ballots. — APP
A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Peshawar. — AFP
Voters standing in queue to cast their ballots outside polling station in Hyderabad. — APP
Women voters pose with their identity cards waiting to cast their vote in Rawalpindi. — AP
Voters line up to cast their ballot at a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP
Voters stand in a queue to cast their ballots outside a polling station for NA-135 and PP-161 constituencies at City School, Johar Town in Lahore. — APP
Header image: Voters stand in a queue to cast their ballots outside a polling station in Hyderabad. — APP