Polls close in Pakistan with former cricket captain Imran Khan tipped for victory
The voting came to a close after a suicide bombing outside a polling station killed at least 31 people.
Thursday 26 July 2018 10:01, UK
Polls have closed in Pakistan ahead of the election of its next prime minister, with tens of millions thought to have cast ballots.
The voting came to a close on Wednesday after a suicide bombing outside a polling station in the city of Quetta, which killed at least 31 people - including five policemen and two children.
It was the third attack of what has been a violent campaign, which is expected to end with a narrow victory of former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan.
But in what has been a tight race, it is likely that his centre-right Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party will have to form a coalition if he wants to govern.
One vote he may not be able to count on is his own, with a spokesman for the national election commission revealing that it could be disqualified because he cast his ballot in front of television cameras.
His main opponent is the three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was arrested on corruption charges when he landed in Lahore from London earlier this month.
Since then he has been campaigning from prison in Islamabad and is reported to be suffering from health issues.
In his place as candidate for the centre-right Pakistan Muslim League is his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif.
The third-largest party in contention is the left-leaning Pakistan People's Party, headed by Bilawal Bhutto.
He is the son of late prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by Pakistan's Taliban militants, whom she had vowed to eradicate.
Results are expected at around 2am local time on Thursday (9pm on Wednesday in the UK).