Pakistan’s new federal cabinet, which was announced recently, is made up of technocrats, seasoned politicians, and a few new names of people who are not affiliated with any political party. The new cabinet appears to be the outcome of a compromise reached by key stakeholders, including the military, and political parties in power to find … Read more
The just-concluded general elections in Pakistan will go down as the most controversial in the country’s troubled political history. The crude manner in which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) withheld and then announced results on the evening of February 9, after an inexplicably long delay, has rendered the entire electoral exercise a farce. Though … Read more
The results of Pakistan’s elections were delayed Friday, a day after the vote that was marred by sporadic violence, a mobile phone service shutdown, and the sidelining of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his party. Local media reported victories by independents backed by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party after the imprisoned Khan was disqualified … Read more
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed confidence that his party would win national elections on Thursday, a vote that has been marred by violence, deep political tensions, and the imprisonment of a popular contender. A day before the election, at least 30 were killed in bombings at political offices. Sporadic attacks on Thursday appeared … Read more
For the next episode in our Road to ‘24 series, Beyond the Indus host Tushar Shetty sat down with Michael Kugelman and Kunwar Khuldune Shahid to break down Pakistan’s chaotic election campaign. Kugelman is the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., and Shahid is a Pakistan-based correspondent for … Read more
On December 23, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided that it would address all formal complaints regarding the constituency delimitation after the general elections scheduled for February 8. The ECP’s decision comes after the Supreme Court ruled the previous week that holding timely elections needed to “be given primacy” to ensure “continuity of democratic … Read more
A Pakistani court acquitted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a graft case on Wednesday, removing a major obstacle for him to run in parliamentary elections in February. The Islamabad High Court’s decision comes weeks after it restored Sharif’s right to appeal a 2018 conviction in a case relating to the purchase of luxury apartments … Read more
Advertisement Three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has left self-imposed exile and returned to Pakistan to launch his twilight vision for the country. However, the Pakistan he has returned to features a political landscape that has been scorched by the power struggle between the dynastic political parties – composed of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and … Read more
Advertisement As Pakistan heads toward its next general elections, set for late January 2024, the political scene is heating up. One former prime minister – Imran Khan – is facing trial on charges of leaking state secrets this week, while another former PM – Nawaz Sharif – just stage a triumphant return home, having received … Read more
Advertisement In September, a Gallup Pakistan survey revealed that the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Hussain Rizvi was Pakistan’s second most popular leader after former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Rizvi’s approval rating was 38 percent compared to Khan’s 60 percent. Three-time Prime Minister and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif stood slightly behind … Read more