KARACHI: The country goes to the polls today [Dec 7] in its first ever general elections being held on the basis of direct adult franchise.

Over five crore fifty-two lakh men and women, nearly half of Pakistan’s total population, will take part in the polling today. They will cast their votes to elect 290 members of the National Assembly which will have a total of 313 members, including 13 seats reserved for women who will be elected by the general members.

The day has been declared a public holiday. Polling will begin at 8-30 in the morning and will continue without break upto 4-30 in the afternoon. But the voters who will be inside the premises of the polling stations will be allowed to cast their votes even after the closing time. ... The unofficial results will be announced by the Provincial Election Commissions after the counting. … Official counting of votes, however, will start after three days of the elections.

… Polling in nine constituencies in the cyclone-affected areas of East Pakistan has been postponed to a later date. Polling is also not being held in one constituency in the tribal areas of NWFP (NW-21 Khyber Agency) where Malik Haji Niamatullah Khan Shinwari has been returned unopposed.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2020