ISLAMABAD: Election campaigns by Pakistan’s political parties and independent candidates concluded across the country at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday, as millions gear up for polls in the economically troubled South Asian country. 
The government said on Tuesday that Pakistan’s election regulator has completed all arrangements to hold polls nationwide, which include establishing over 90,600 polling stations in all four provinces and the deployment of around 650,000 security personnel.
As the South Asian country heads to the polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued an advisory warning candidates and political parties against organizing rallies, public meetings or corner meetings to canvass for votes.
The regulator said that from Feb. 7 till polling day, election campaigns, adver­ti­se­m­ents and written mat­erials on electronic and print media in support of or in opposition to a particular political party or candidate, would not be deemed permissible.
“Legal action will be taken against any person who violates the above-mentioned provision [Section 182, Elections Act 2017] of the law,” the ECP said.
The election regulator reminded media organizations that they cannot run poll surveys till the electoral exercise is not completed. However, it said media can broadcast poll results one hour after voting concludes, provided they clarify that the results are unofficial and inconclusive.
Security will be a key challenge for Pakistani authorities as the country heads to national polls amid surging attacks on political parties and election candidates. Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has seen several attacks on election candidates, security forces and the ECP’s offices in the in the last week. This includes a bomb blast last that that targeted a rally led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Sibi city, which killed four people and injured five.
Out of 90,675 total polling stations across Pakistan, the government has declared 44,026 as “normal” in terms of security, while over 29,000 polling stations were classified sensitive, with CCTV cameras installed at these locations.
The electoral exercise has been marred by allegations of rigging, mainly by former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI party. Khan, who was handed jail sentences in three different cases last week under charges that range from graft to leaking state secrets, claims he has done no wrong.
The cricketer-turned-politician blames Pakistan’s powerful military, saying that cases against him are politically motivated to keep him away from elections. The military denies Khan’s allegations and says it does not interfere in political matters.