By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan goes to parliamentary polls on Monday under unprecedented security measures as the recent suicide attacks and bomb blasts have created concerns among the public.
The hectic election campaign which continued for almost two months finally ended at midnight. Under the election rules the contesting candidates cannot continue their canvassing.
Despite deteriorated security situation party leaders addressed public meetings, rallies, corner meetings and engaged in door to door contacts to persuade voters to cast their vote in their favour.
Major parties Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Mutahida Majlis-e Amal and around 35 other parties issued election manifesto.
They explained their policies and programmes for the entire country and the respective constituencies to win the hearts and minds of the people.
The Election Commission says it has made all the arrangements to hold the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The election related material has reached in all constituencies, while the ballot papers will be handed over to the Presiding Officers and will be transferred to the polling stations under strict security tomorrow.
For the first time the transparent ballot boxes and voter screens are being utilized to make the polling process more transparent and fair. The electoral rolls and the location of the polling stations have been posted on the Website of the Election Commission for the greater benefit of the candidates and the voters.
In all sixty four thousand one hundred seventy six polling stations have been set up across the country.
Over five hundred seventy one thousand polling staff will supervise the conduct of the polling.
About two thousand two hundred fifty candidates are in the run for the election of two hundred sixty nine general seats of National Assembly, while the election on three seats has been postponed due to the deaths of candidates and security concerns.
About five thousand and eighty candidates are in the field for the contest of five hundred seventy general seats of the four provincial assemblies, while the election on four seats of Punjab and three of North West Frontier Province assemblies have been postponed.
The polling will start at 8 a.m., and continue without break till 5 p.m., however the voters in the premises of the polling stations will be allowed to cast their votes after the closing time, the election officials say.
The Returning Officers after completing the counting of the votes at the polling stations will announce the results, they say.
Around 81 thousands troops and around four hundred thousands police men as well as paramilitary forces will be deployed across the country, the Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan has said.
The political parties have put on display bill-boards, banners and posters of their leaders and candidates in cities and towns to attract the public attention.