Voting closes in Pakistan, 'huge' turnout in Punjab

Polling stations closed at 6pm (1300 GMT) in Pakistan's historic general elections, which saw a "huge" turnout in the largest province of Punjab, an election commission official announced.

"The election commission of Pakistan was successful in conducting the elections. We have a huge turnout in Punjab," commission secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed told a news conference, confirming that polling stations would close at 6pm.

Voting will continue until 1500 GMT in seven Karachi constituencies where polling stations opened late, officials have said.

Ahmed stopped short of announcing a precise figure for turnout, but said that it was "very good" across the country in general.

Supporters of rival parties accused each other of rigging, particularly in Karachi where Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the poll after pointing the finger at Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which controls the city.

Addressing concerns about fraud, Ahmed said: "We will not hide anything. If we have a complaint from any polling station, we will take notice of it.

"Rest assured, there will be no compromise on the transparency of the election."

Voters will elect 272 members of the National Assembly and to win a simple majority, a party would have to take 137 seats.

However, the election is complicated by the fact that a further 70 seats, most reserved for women and members of non- Muslim minorities, are allocated to parties on the basis of their performance in the contested constituencies. To have a majority of the total of 342, a party would need 172.[left][/left]