As the dust settles from Pakistan’s highly contentious elections, presumptive prime ministerial candidate Nawaz Sharif has stepped down and could now be re-elected, despite former prime minister Imran Khan’s populist party winning. supported Shehbaz, the former prime minister’s younger brother, who has a high level of Most seats.
Mr. Khan was sentenced to decades in prison on corruption and national security charges, and his PTI party was removed from the ballot by court order, but it remains It shows It won the most seats in last week’s chaotic election, but it’s a surprising victory given the circumstances.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, chants slogans during a protest against allegations of voter fraud in some constituencies in parliamentary elections in Karachi, Pakistan, on February 11, 2024. Supporters of (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
The PTI falls short of the seats it needs to win a majority, and no other party intends to form a coalition with it. PTI leaders accused the powerful military and government officials of rigging the election to prevent the party from winning the seats it needed.
One of the oddities of Pakistan’s election laws that ruined PTI’s chances was that requirements Seventy seats in parliament must be reserved for women and non-Muslim candidates, and the seats cannot be held by independent candidates. PTI had to run its candidate as an independent after a court order barred it from using the famous cricket bat symbol chosen to honor Khan’s sporting career. Reserved seats are distributed according to the proportion of free seats won by other parties.
Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) holds about 75 seats in the latest tally, compared to the PTI’s 93, but the PMLN was able to consolidate seats. union Get the support of six other parties to get the required majority of votes. include Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) came in third place.
PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari held a press conference on Tuesday, saying that negotiations are difficult and his party still has strong differences with the PMLN, but that difficulties can be put aside in the interest of the nation. He said he was able to do it.
Pakistani election officials prepare to open ballot boxes before vote counting begins after polls close in the Pakistan general election at a polling station in Lahore, Pakistan, on February 8, 2024. (Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)
Nawaz Sharif, 74, returned from political exile and won a seat in the National Assembly in last week’s elections. He has previously served three non-consecutive terms as prime minister and was seen by the ruling coalition as the most likely candidate to become the next prime minister.
Sharif’s daughter Mariam on Wednesday Said Her father has had majority governments for the past three terms and is reportedly deciding not to serve as prime minister because he does not like the idea of governing in a finicky minority government.
The job of managing Pakistan’s political cat will once again fall to Shehbaz Sharif, 72, who served as prime minister before the government was dissolved for general elections. He is not particularly popular among voters, and while Mr. Khan undoubtedly has more popular support, the political establishment has cobbled together a government amid the turmoil that followed Mr. Khan’s government. He is recognized for his achievements. Expel By vote of no confidence in Parliament in April 2022.
An election campaign poster for former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party is displayed in a market in Lahore, Pakistan, on February 5, 2024. (AP Photo/KM Chaudhary)
Young Sharif also important transaction He has been working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the past year and is backed by the Pakistani military, which has come to despise Imran Khan and his supporters.
Speaking on social media from prison, Mr. Khan expressed his disdain for Mr. Sharif returning to the prime minister’s office after forging a political coalition agreement that he deemed corrupt. He reiterated the PTI’s claims that the vote was rigged and insisted that it did indeed win the two-thirds majority needed to form a sole government.
“I warn against the misfortune of forming a government with stolen votes,” Khan said. “Such broad daylight robbery is not only a disrespect to the people, but will further push the country’s economy into a downward spiral.”
“PTI will never compromise with the will of the people. I have categorically directed the party not to engage with any party that has usurped the mandate of the people, including the PPP, PMLN and MQM,” he said.
MQM is Muttahida Qaumi Movement, a socially liberal and secular political party. Mr. Khan particularly dislikes the MQM. This is because the MQM, once part of his political coalition, turned against him after it lost support for his military.
“Pakistan’s elections are in dire need of democracy and fairness, as the people of Pakistan have clearly declared their verdict,” Khan concluded.
