? Pakistan yesterday held general elections for 839 seats of the national and provincial assemblies.

? In the fray are 2,234 candidates contesting for 269 general seats of the national assembly, and 5,017 candidates contesting for 570 seats of the provincial assemblies.

? 7 constituencies out of the 577 would go to polls later.

? 81 million voters aged 18 years and above, are eligible to cast votes across the country.

? 64,000 polling stations have been set up for the purpose, of which 382 polling stations are in Islamabad, 37,600 in Punjab, 13,400 in Sindh, 8,100 in NWFP, 3,400 in Balochistan, and 1,122 in FATA.

? 160 million ballot papers have been printed.

? More than 561,000 presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers are on election duty.

? Votes are cast in transparent ballot boxes - one for the national assembly and another for the provincial assembly.

? All major parties of the country are participating in the elections, which includes 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.

? The PPP manifesto is centred on employment, energy, education, environment and equality. The PML-N?s manifesto is based on restoration of judiciary, democracy and the 1973 constitution, the elimination of military?s rule over politics, security of life and property, tolerance, overall reconciliation, relief for the poor, and education and employment. PML is seeking votes for democracy, development, defence, devolution and diversity.

? Originally the election was set for Jan 8 but was put off to Feb 18 following the assassination of Benezair Bhutto.

<B>Poll Scenario </B>

? Opinion polls favour Pakistan People?s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to the former ruling coalition of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and other loyalists of President Pervez Musharraf.

? PPP is expected to sweep its traditional power base of rural Sindh and do better than in 2002 in other provinces including NWFP.

? PML-ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is likely to retain its dominance in urban centres of Karachi and Hyderabad ? The turnout from about 82 million registered voters will be a major factor in the election result. PPP and PML-N are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of a large turnout.