Pakistan is holding historic elections today, pitting former cricket star Imran Khan against a two-time prime minister once exiled by the army and an incumbent blamed for power blackouts and inflation.

Opposition parties remained deadlocked today after three days of talks aimed at producing a deal for their participation in forthcoming elections.

Senior Pakistani opposition leader Javed Hashmi was released from prison today and received a rapturous welcome from hundreds of chanting, flag-waving supporters, a day after the Supreme Court granted him bail.