In pictures: Pakistanis head to polls in droves to make their choice

Pakistanis defy the odds to go out and cast their ballots in the historic 2018 general elections.
Dawn.com Published July 25, 2018

There were clashes, terrorist violence and complaints of mismanagement, but millions of Pakistanis defied the odds to go out and cast their ballots in the historic 2018 general elections.

After an acrimonious election campaign, polls opened across the country on Wednesday at 8am and closed at 6pm. The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected the request by several parties to extend the polling time by an hour.

A woman walks out of a polling station holding Pakistan's national flag after casting her ballot in Rawalpindi. — AFP
A woman walks out of a polling station holding Pakistan's national flag after casting her ballot in Rawalpindi. — AFP

Voters lineup to cast their ballot outside a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP
Voters lineup to cast their ballot outside a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP

An elderly man is assisted by his son as they arrive at a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP
An elderly man is assisted by his son as they arrive at a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP

A supporter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrives at a polling station to cast his vote in Lahore. — AP
A supporter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrives at a polling station to cast his vote in Lahore. — AP

Voters displaying their marked thumbs after casting their ballots at a polling station in Qasimabad, Hyderabad. — APP
Voters displaying their marked thumbs after casting their ballots at a polling station in Qasimabad, Hyderabad. — APP

An elderly man shows his inked thump after casting his vote outside a polling station in Lahore. — AFP
An elderly man shows his inked thump after casting his vote outside a polling station in Lahore. — AFP

An election official marks a voter's thumb before casting her vote at a polling station in Islamabad. — AFP
An election official marks a voter's thumb before casting her vote at a polling station in Islamabad. — AFP

Voters stand in a queue outside a polling station in Balochistan's Dalbandin area to cast their ballots. — APP
Voters stand in a queue outside a polling station in Balochistan's Dalbandin area to cast their ballots. — APP

A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Peshawar. — AFP
A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Peshawar. — AFP

Voters standing in queue to cast their ballots outside polling station in Hyderabad. — APP
Voters standing in queue to cast their ballots outside polling station in Hyderabad. — APP

Women voters pose with their identity cards waiting to cast their vote in Rawalpindi. — AP
Women voters pose with their identity cards waiting to cast their vote in Rawalpindi. — AP

Voters line up to cast their ballot at a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP
Voters line up to cast their ballot at a polling station in Rawalpindi. — AFP

Voters stand in a queue to cast their ballots outside a polling station for NA-135 and PP-161 constituencies at City School, Johar Town in Lahore. — APP
Voters stand in a queue to cast their ballots outside a polling station for NA-135 and PP-161 constituencies at City School, Johar Town in Lahore. — APP

Header image: Voters stand in a queue to cast their ballots outside a polling station in Hyderabad. — APP

Comments (53) Closed
Pakistani
Jul 25, 2018 06:04pm
Pakistan Zindabad
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Pakistani
Jul 25, 2018 06:04pm
Love the lady with the Pakistani flag
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Baloch
Jul 25, 2018 06:15pm
Well done Pakistan especially Pakistani women for showing courage and coming out in large numbers to cast their votes. Pakistan Zindabaad.
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Abbas
Jul 25, 2018 06:22pm
Good luck Pakistan
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Salman
Jul 25, 2018 06:23pm
Take back your country from the corrupt mafia of PMLN/PPP/PMLQ/MQM/JUIF/ANP long live Pakistan and its resilient people.
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Robinson
Jul 25, 2018 06:24pm
May the righteous win.. Would love to see a vibrant and thriving Pakistan.
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Azhar jamil
Jul 25, 2018 06:36pm
Goodluck Pakistan.
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Hasan
Jul 25, 2018 06:44pm
My heart goes out to those with physical impairments, who had to struggle just to cast their vote. Also the elderly, who have seen so much done to the country, but still had the courage to come forward and cast their vote again. It's unimportant which party you voted for, you all have my love and respect. Hasan
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Syed
Jul 25, 2018 06:50pm
Absolutely loved these pictures. Well done my fellow Pakistani's. You are one of the most brave and resilient nation in the world.
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MG
Jul 25, 2018 06:52pm
Goodluck Pakistan from India/Australia. I wish a responsible party wins majority and form government. May new government make policies towards improving economy and foreign relations specially with neighbors.
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Amron
Jul 25, 2018 06:59pm
Great job. Today we have made history together!
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Javed
Jul 25, 2018 07:03pm
I salute the strong and brave lady one proudly carring pakistani national flag long live to that lady.i hope oncoming pakistani leader to be honest and sincere lead and rule the country candidly and honestly.
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ahamed
Jul 25, 2018 07:06pm
Get out and vote your conscious. That's your right. Excercise and be proud.
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Gaurav
Jul 25, 2018 07:15pm
Good luck to all pakistani citizens. May you get best person to lead the country. Long live democracy.
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Komal s
Jul 25, 2018 07:38pm
I guess it is PTI all the way, with women voting in large numbers. Have a feeling Imran is going to mess this up.
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Denali
Jul 25, 2018 08:03pm
No Pics from Karachi ??
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Surinder Gill
Jul 25, 2018 08:10pm
Congrats Pakistan. Hope and wish that any one come to power will work for betterment of public and better peace and understanding in the region. Try to make a FSA (Federation of South ASIA, like European Union. No border from Iran to BD and no trade restriction and movement of peoples. It will solve many problems and bring prosperity in South Asia. Good luck.
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amarnath
Jul 25, 2018 08:26pm
May democracy live long in Pakistan
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Najim khan
Jul 25, 2018 08:53pm
Pakistan
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amarnath
Jul 25, 2018 08:55pm
Hope Democracy would function smoothly in Pakistan.
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Raza K
Jul 25, 2018 09:01pm
@Hasan very true. In western countries, special accomodation is provided for people with disabilities. Salutecto those who came our despite physical challenges
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M. Emad
Jul 25, 2018 09:05pm
Winner decided ?
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Zarmeena
Jul 25, 2018 09:25pm
beautiful display of solidarity!!
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Rajesh
Jul 25, 2018 09:32pm
What is the voting percentage? No media mentions about it. Is it too low there?
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Zak
Jul 25, 2018 09:41pm
Really proud of the people of pakistan.
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Ali B
Jul 25, 2018 09:53pm
Amazing! It's a national achievement!
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Anis shivani
Jul 25, 2018 10:14pm
Incredibly inspirational pictures! The important thing is to believe in and strengthen the democratic process and not look to shortcut or bypass it.
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shahrukh petigara
Jul 25, 2018 10:19pm
well done. May the best party/man win. Inshalah.
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Majeed Ullah
Jul 25, 2018 10:40pm
love the lady with pakistani flage
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zafar khan
Jul 25, 2018 11:35pm
Long live Pakistan. Long Live Pak Armed Forces. The nation and its Soldiers are One!
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Anjum
Jul 25, 2018 11:46pm
Wow just superb living abroad I wish I could be there to savor the Jazba And Junoon. Pakistan Zindabad
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JK
Jul 26, 2018 12:01am
@Surinder Gill love the thought but we have a long journey ahead to make it all possible. IK may be open, but would Modi sarkar consider?
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Saeed Hashmi
Jul 26, 2018 01:33am
Great number of Women voters- Great "Tabdeeli"
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Saeed Hashmi
Jul 26, 2018 01:35am
Great Number of Women Voter's participation - Great 'TABDEELI" Great to see folks from all walk of life actively participating - Pakistan Zindabad - True winner is Pakistan
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M. Emad
Jul 26, 2018 02:33am
Imran Khan's Party + Fundamentalist parties (/ PPP) = 2018 Pakistan government.
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Zak
Jul 26, 2018 03:25am
@JK Look after your own disintegrating union. Stop trying to hang on to the tail coat of Pakistan. We cant help you. Pakistan just voted in an incorruptible , clean, honest, unbiased leader. India voted in a man who had blood of minorities on his hand, a criminal .
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Akshay
Jul 26, 2018 03:29am
Hi It is good to see people coming to vote specially women and elderly. It shows faith in democracy. However I can’t see long queues except in one photo. People should support a good party and give them majority. The main issues are poverty, corruption, under development. Peaceful relationship with neighbors can be biggest contributor to resolve such issues.
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atif
Jul 26, 2018 04:16am
My heart is pumping right now of joy for Pakistan. At 200 million strong, your potential is untapped, and your future is scary good. Sending strength and courage from New York. LETS GO!
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Imran
Jul 26, 2018 04:36am
good luck Pakistan and All the best PTI
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Richard Mckenzie
Jul 26, 2018 08:53am
The country needs a change with a new party to govern, give the winner a chance to bring those changes that is needed to make the country into an economic power and better the living conditions for all the people of Pakistan.
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Ash
Jul 26, 2018 10:36am
I am so happy to see my Pakistani people to come out and cast their vote! Wishing to see a more stronger, beautiful and educated Pakistan. Pakistan zindabad!
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Arnab Bardhan
Jul 26, 2018 03:15pm
Expected a new era of PAKISTAN POLITICS and this almost peaceful election are showing every corner of Pakistan. Thanks The DAWN for sending this pictures of voting queue at all over the country.
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Asif A. Shah
Jul 26, 2018 04:07pm
If the people are rightly mobilized then they can solve the bigger problems of the country as well. In my view, the overpopulation, pervasive pollution and unemployment are the bigger problems of Pakistan.
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salim chowdhrey
Jul 26, 2018 04:49pm
Proud of people of Pakistan. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD I think this vote was to punish the tyrants in the Nation. My hope is new tyrants are taken to task with more promptness before they steal and stuff foreign banks.
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Saifuddin Takhtawala
Jul 26, 2018 11:30pm
Pakistan Zindabad
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Dr.Cajetan COELHO
Jul 27, 2018 02:37pm
Casting one's precious vote is the mother of all celebrations in democracy conscious South Asia. Long live democracy worldwide.
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HashBrown®
Jul 25, 2019 12:13pm
Hard to believe this was a year ago. All things considered, if elections were held again today, I'm reasonably sure the results would be similar.
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M. Saeed
Jul 25, 2019 12:26pm
Time to ponder after one year of voting if the voting right was rightly used?
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Luca
Jul 25, 2019 12:50pm
this is the pakistan that needs to be changed and appreciated; its common ppl that represents a country. spread knowledge and education.. Believe in peace; support betterment of country not individual..
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Saif Zulfiqar
Jul 25, 2019 03:25pm
Exactly one year ago Pakistanis did a very sensible Choice to vote PTI/Imran Khan.
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Iftikhar Khan
Jul 25, 2019 06:39pm
Irrespective of the purpose of engineering this election, it will go down in history as a pivotal day that started economic meltdown.
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Telephone Man
Jul 25, 2019 06:58pm
...and the people voted for change.
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Khan
Jul 26, 2019 04:46am
what do these poors or masses get in return for exercising their voting rights ?
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