Faisalabad

Total NA seats: 10

Total PA seats: 21

Voting for the first time

Many first-time voters ambled from polling booths with inky thumbs after casting their vote.

Syed Hasan Mustafa, a 21-year-old BBA student, eagerly cast his first vote with a sense of determination. "I'm here to vote because I believe my ballot can catalyse systemic change," he said.

“I pray for a government that addresses inflation and prioritises education and healthcare," said Mehran Tahir, a 22-year-old motorcycle mechanic and another first time voter.

Photos by Naeem Ahmad

Quetta

Total NA seats: 5

Total PA seats: 15

A tense election

Voter turnout remained low in Quetta, in part due to security reasons. Polling commenced amidst tightened security and the mood remained tense.

The polling process continued smoothly but the whole province was on high alert due to a spate of violence that gripped it. Only a day before the elections, two bombs exploded in Pishin and Qila Saifullah, killing 28 citizens and injuring many.

Photos by PPI

Karachi

Total NA seats: 22

Total PA seats: 47

Womencracy

Women flocked to polling stations in the metropolis to cast their votes.

With the total number of registered female voters in the country hitting 59,322,056, the electoral gender gap fell to less than 10 million for the first time in a decade.

This development is promising for a nascent democracy such as Pakistan where, traditionally, a number of socio-political obstacles have kept women from exercising their right to vote.

In days leading up to the elections, the ECP stated that it reserved the right to order re-polls in constituencies where women turnout remained less than 10 per cent.

Photos by Online

Peshawar

Total NA seats: 11

Total PA seats: 29

The final count

Polling agents count votes in a booth in Peshawar after a busy day.

The polling process sailed smoothly, thanks to the efforts of the staff which was on duty from dusk to dawn.

From lugging ballot boxes to setting up the polling stations, these agents diligently performed their electoral duties. They’re the real MVPs.

Photos by PPI