Pakistan’s parliamentary elections have caused a major upset, leading to an unexpected and potentially chaotic transition to the next government. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which was backed by the military establishment, was widely expected to secure a victory. However, voters instead delivered a stunning win for politicians allied with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Despite PTI’s victory, they are unable to form the next government due to a Supreme Court ruling that barred them from using their electoral symbol on ballots. As a result, independent candidates, many of whom are associated with PTI, won the majority of seats in parliament. Currently, negotiations are underway between the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form a coalition government.
Unfortunately, none of the major parties have presented convincing plans to address Pakistan’s economic and security challenges. Imran Khan, the popular leader of PTI, is ineligible to become the next prime minister due to criminal convictions and a 10-year ban on holding elected office. Therefore, the likely coalition government would be led by Shehbaz Sharif of the PML-N.
Support for PTI politicians was surprising given the various efforts to prevent their victory, which included imprisoning some politicians and disallowing the use of their electoral symbol on ballots. On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif, the elder Sharif who has served as prime minister three times before, failed to complete a full term. While he stabilized the economy during his most recent term, he struggled with security concerns.
However, there is a chance that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the PPP could be elected prime minister with support from independent politicians and smaller parties. This outcome would reflect a rejection of the political and military establishment in Pakistan and a desire for change.
Overall, the challenges faced in forming a new government highlight the difficulties of Pakistani democracy and the powerful influence of the military in the country’s politics. As Pakistan’s political landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen how the new government will address the nation’s pressing issues.
