Voting begins in the legislative and regional elections in Pakistan. More than 128 million voters are entitled to participate in the 12th general parliamentary elections.
The next government will be formed by the party that receives the support of two-thirds of the representatives. The elections are taking place against the backdrop of security and political tensions, and are expected to lead to the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to assume the presidency of the government for a fourth term. The country is on high alert amid the deployment of the army to polling stations, and tens of thousands of troops and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across Pakistan.