Pakistan Votes Amid Rigging Allegations

Millions of Pakistanis began voting in an election marred by allegations of poll rigging, with the country's most popular politician in jail and a military-favored candidate tipped to win.

Authorities said they were suspending mobile telephone services across the country during voting "to maintain law and order" following a bloody election campaign -- including two blasts that killed 28 people.

Pollsters have predicted a low turnout from the country's 128 million eligible voters following a lackluster election campaign overshadowed by the jailing of former prime minister Imran Khan, and the hobbling of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party by the military-led establishment.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to win the most seats in vote, with analysts saying its 74-year-old founder Nawaz Sharif has won the blessing of the generals.

Officials have deployed more than 650,000 army, paramilitary and police personnel to provide security for an election already marred by violence.

Election has a similar air to the 2018 poll, but with the tables turned.

Then, it was Sharif who was disqualified from running because of a string of convictions for graft, while Khan swept to power with the backing of the military, as well as genuine support.

At least 28 people were killed and more than 30 wounded by two bomb blasts outside the offices of candidates in southwestern Pakistan, in attacks claimed hours later by the Islamic State group.

The election figures are staggering in the nuclear-armed nation of 240 million people -- the world's fifth-most populous.

Nearly 18,000 candidates are standing for seats in the national and four provincial assemblies, with 266 seats directly contested in the former -- an additional 70 reserved for women and minorities -- and 749 places in the regional parliaments.