Pakistan Election 2018: Here's everything you need to know!

<strong>Islamabad: As Pakistan gears up for polling on Wednesday, here are all the important details of what is to happen on the big day.</strong> Polling will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and end at 6 p.m. Over 100 political parties are in the fray for 272 seats in the National Assembly. In all, 3,459 candidates will contest 272 seats. Another 60 seats are reserved for women while 10 have been kept aside for religious minorities including Hindus. According to an Election Commission official, 5,878 polling stations have been declared "highly sensitive" -- official euphemism to mean they are prone to violence -- in Sindh, 5,487 in Punjab and Islamabad, 3,874 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA and 1,768 in Balochistan. Amidst all the talk speculating rigged elections, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan assured people that they are striving to conduct free and fair elections in an impartial manner. He urged people to come out on the polling day & fulfill national responsibility by exercising their right to vote. Meanwhile, Imran Khan, Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are being touted as the top contenders in the race, with Khan taking the lead in popular opinion. Also read: <a href="https://www.abplive.in/photos/pakistan-elections-2018-spotlight-on-these-5-contenders-730651">Pakistan Elections 2018: Spotlight On These 5 </a> <a href="https://www.abplive.in/world-news/pakistan-elections-2018-former-pm-nawaz-posts-audio-message-from-adiala-jail-730879">'Main Nawaz Sharif, Jail se bol raha hoon'- former Pak PM posts audio message from Adiala jail</a> <a href="https://www.abplive.in/world-news/pakistan-elections-2018-largest-military-deployment-for-polls-tomorrow-730571">Pakistan Elections 2018: Largest military deployment for polls tomorrow</a> <a href="https://www.abplive.in/world-news/pakistan-elections-2018-in-a-first-125-transgenders-to-monitor-polling-booths-730867">Pakistan Elections 2018: In a first, 125 transgenders to monitor polling booths</a>  

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