Pakistan, Feb. 8 -- Tough contest is expected between three mainstream political parties: Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan People's Party

Millions of Pakistanis will head to the polls on Thursday amid a grinding combination of economic and political crises.

Over 128 million people, 45% of them between the ages of 18 and 35, are eligible to cast their ballots to elect a new government for a five-year term.

Thousands of candidates, both independents and affiliated with parties, are vying for 266 seats in the National Assembly, the 336-member lower house of Parliament. The remaining 70 seats are reserved for women and minorities. A party requires 169 seats to form the government with a simple majority....