Overview
- Polling began Sunday with voting scheduled from 8am to 5pm across 1,391 polling stations and about 958,480 registered voters eligible to cast ballots.
- Authorities say more than 17,500 security personnel from local and provincial units have been deployed and Diamer district is under a 60-day Section 144 order.
- Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan inspected stations, told staff to ensure neutrality, and officials reported that election materials and logistics were in place.
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and PTI-backed independents allege pre-poll rigging through campaign restrictions, withdrawal of symbols, detentions and reported communications disruptions.
- The main contest features the Pakistan Peoples Party and PML-N plus many independents and smaller parties, and the result will affect local development priorities and perceptions of electoral credibility.