ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is holding general elections for 839 seats of the national and provincial assemblies and at least 81 million voters will exercise their rights of franchise by casting votes across the country.

Polling for 268 seats of the national assembly and 570 seats of the provincial assemblies kicked off at 8.00 A.M. Monday morning, which will continue without any break until 5.00 P.M. in the evening. All arrangements have been finalized for making the election process transparent and peaceful.

Secretary Election Commission Kanwar Dilshad announced to postpone the polling in NA-37 Parachinar-2. Earlier, the election was postponed in NA-42 Tribal area VII in view of the bad law and order, while in NA-119 Lahore-II due to the death of a candidate Tariq Banday and in NA-207 Larkana cum Shikarpur due to PPP Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto`s murder in suicide attack. Elections would be held later on in these constituencies.

In four Punjab Assembly constituencies—PP171, PP141, PP99 and PP70—the elections would be held later on owing to the demise of the candidates from their respective constituencies.

In three NWFP Assembly constituencies—PF92, PF81, PF59—the elections have also been postponed owing to the demise of candidates.

There are 2,234 candidates contesting for the 269 general seats of the national assembly, while 5,017 candidates are contesting for 570 seats of the provincial assemblies and elections in the 7 constituencies out of the 577 would be held later on.

There are 262 candidates for NA seats in NWFP; 179 candidates for 11 FATA seats; 34 candidates on two Islamabad seats; 999 candidates on 147 Punjab seats; 617 candidates on 60 Sindh seats and there are 43 candidates in Balochistan contesting on 14 NA seats.

There are 2272 candidates contesting for 293 seats of Punjab provincial assembly; 1468 candidates for 130 seats of Sindh Assembly; 736 candidates for 96 seats of NWFP Assembly and 541 candidates are contesting for 51 seats of Balochistan Assembly.

Following the completion of polling, counting will start. Transparent ballot boxes--one for the national assembly and another for the provincial assembly, will be kept for casting of the votes. Over 160 million ballot papers--the white one for the national assembly and the green one for the provincial assembly, have been printed for this purpose.

Election Commission has set up over 64,000 polling stations all across the country-382 polling stations in Islamabad, over 37,600 in Punjab, over 13,400 in Sindh, over 8,100 in NWFP, over 3,400 in Balochistan, while 1,122 polling stations set up in FATA, where more than 5,61,000 presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers have been posted.

All major parties of the country were participating in the elections, which included Pakistan People`s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Muslim League-N, besides a large number of independent candidates are in the field.

Strong contingents of Police and Rangers have been posted at the polling stations for meeting any eventualities and maintaining law and order, besides army will remain stand-by for their help.

On the polls day today, Pakistan army has considerable presence in sensitive areas of the country.