Politicians exercise their right to vote

Political bigwigs encourage people to cast their votes

Pakistani politicians came out on Wednesday to exercise their right to vote.

Interim Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk travelled to Swat to cast his vote for NA-3 (Swat III) while President Mamnoon Hussain voted in Karachi’s NA-247 constituency.

Interim Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk casts his vote in Swat. PHOTO:EXPRESS

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif was among the first few politicians who cast their votes in the morning, followed by his arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, who cast his vote in Islamabad for NA-53.

Imran Khan at a polling station for NA-53. PHOTO: REUTERS

Imran and Shehbaz were criticised by the ECP for violating code of conduct by speaking to the media after casting their votes.

Shehbaz Sharif poses for cameras after casting his vote. PHOTO: REUTERS

Imran and Shehbaz were criticised by the ECP for violating the code of conduct by speaking to the media after casting their votes.

Contesting polls for the first time, Jamaatud Dawa’s chief Hafiz Saeed cast his vote at a polling station in Lahore.

In Rawalpindi, former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf voted for the constituency of NA-58, whereas the chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed also cast his vote from NA-62, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s leader Babar Awan voted for the constituency NA-57.

On the other hand, former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal cast his vote in Narowal. Iqbal is competing against PTI’s singer-turned-politician Abrarul Haq. Earlier this year, Iqbal also came under a gun attack in Narowal.

Today we shall comprehensively defeat regressive politics of hate, bigotry & division in Narowal propagated by my opponents. IA pic.twitter.com/avAzWPvbZS

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) July 25, 2018

In Sindh, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari voted at an NA-200 polling station in Larkana, while his sisters, Bakhtawar and Asifa Bhutto both cast their votes for NA-213 Nawabshah.

Voted! Every vote counts. #DemocracyistheBestRevenge pic.twitter.com/81iq5xSDWy

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 25, 2018

Voted with @AseefaBZ this morning in #Nawabshah & inshAllah in Shaheed Benazirabad #TeerChalega #Pakistan #Elections2018 #AgliBariPirZardari @AAliZardari pic.twitter.com/Eer0bJPnUv

— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 25, 2018

In Karachi’s NA-247, Leader of Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman cast her vote. President Mamnoon Hussain also cast his vote from the same constituency.

Voted for @murtazawahab1 and Aziz Memon in Clifton this morning. High turnout even by 10 am! #TeerTouDefinitelyChalayGa #JeetKaNishaanTeer 🏹 pic.twitter.com/Zdp8wXsARt

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) July 25, 2018

President Mamnoon Hussain casts his vote in Karachi. PHOTO:EXPRESS

Independent candidate Jibran Nasir was also seen casting his vote for NA-247. Nasir shared his voting experience in tweet, saying that he had the pleasure of meeting opposing candidate Arif Alvi at the polling centre.

I have cast my vote. Requesting all Pakistanis to come out and perform their national duty for a democratic and strong Pakistan. Had the pleasure of meeting opposing candidate @ArifAlvi at the Polling Station. We exchanged greetings and wished each other good luck. pic.twitter.com/7oKXwwoqzj

— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) July 25, 2018

PML-N’s Miftah Ismail cast his vote at Karachi’s NA-244 polling station, while PTI’s Amir Liaquat cast vote at Karachi’s NA-219 polling station.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, former K-P chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti cast his vote in Mardan, while Awami National Party’s chief Asfandyar Wali Khan cast his vote in Charsadda. Earlier this morning an ANP was killed in a firing incident in Swabi.

In Balochistan, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani cast his vote in Chaghi.

PHOTO: ZAFAR BALOCH