Pakistan: polling stations open amid tight security

(Vatican Radio) Polls are open and voters are casting ballots all across Pakistan in general elections that see the country’s first transition from one elected civilian government to another elected civilian government in the entire 66-year history of the country. Queues started forming before polling stations opened at 08:00 Pakistani time on Saturday. Tens of thousands of government soldiers are guarding polling stations, in the wake of threats from the Pakistani Taliban. Hours before polls opened, Pakistan sealed its borders with Iran and Afghanistan as part of efforts to keep foreign militants from entering the country. Borders are to stay closed for the coming three days. The run-up to the landmark elections has also been marred by violence in which more than 100 people have been killed. Listen:

The nation of 176 million people is choosing among three major candidates for prime minister: former prime minister Nawaz Sharif; former cricketer Imran Khan, who recently suffered grave injury in an accident at a campaign rally; and political scion Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is the only son of president Asif ali Zardari and slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.