Pakistan heads to the polls on Thursday amidst a lackluster election campaign overshadowed by court battles and accusations of an unfair playing field. Let’s take a closer look at the key players in this high-stakes election.
Nawaz Sharif, known as the “Lion of Punjab,” leads the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and is expected to secure enough seats to either govern independently or form a ruling coalition. This would mark his fourth term as prime minister. However, Sharif has faced numerous challenges throughout his political career, including periods of imprisonment and exile due to corruption convictions. Despite these setbacks, his family’s wealth and long-standing influence have helped him maintain a strong support base. Supporters admire his approachable demeanor and his focus on economic liberalization, free markets, and improving relations with India.
The military, widely regarded as Pakistan’s strongest institution, has ruled the country for half of its history. While the army denies interfering in elections, political parties and their leaders often rise and fall with the military’s backing. The military also controls foreign and defense policy and safeguards Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. With a significant number of active service members and reserves, it ranks as the world’s tenth-largest military. Retired officers dominate the boards of charities, sporting associations, state enterprises, and parastatals, highlighting the military’s pervasive influence.
Imran Khan, a former prime minister who was ousted from office in April 2022, will not be participating in this election due to multiple jail sentences and a political disqualification. However, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is still expected to perform well. Khan, a charismatic former cricketer, has defied the odds and won matches from seemingly impossible positions. Despite a falling out with the military establishment that initially supported his rise, Khan’s popularity remains strong among many Pakistanis.
Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz’s younger brother, became prime minister in 2022 after Khan was removed through a vote of no confidence. While Shehbaz relies on his brother’s counsel, they do not always see eye to eye, particularly on military matters. Shehbaz, known for his work ethic and safari suits, has taken the lead in the lackluster PML-N election campaign. Observers anticipate that if his brother forms a government, Shehbaz will be given a senior role, possibly overseeing a key planning ministry.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the son of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, enters this election with limited experience but a powerful political legacy. Benazir Bhutto, the world’s first Muslim woman leader, served as prime minister and was assassinated in 2007. Bilawal’s grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was also a prime minister who was overthrown in a coup and executed in 1979. Although Bhutto-Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is unlikely to secure a majority, their stronghold in southern Sindh province gives them influence in forming a coalition government.
As Pakistan awaits the election results, the nation is poised for a potentially transformative political landscape.
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