On Thursday, Pakistan will hold its elections amidst a backdrop of increasing militant attacks, economic turmoil, and a highly divided political atmosphere. Many experts believe that there will not be a clear winner in this election. The main contenders are expected to be Imran Khan, a former prime minister currently in prison, who is backed by his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Nawaz Sharif, a three-time premier and the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).
Another candidate, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former premier Benazir Bhutto, has also been campaigning aggressively for the top position. However, analysts suggest that the powerful military in Pakistan may play a role in the outcome of the election. While the military has had a significant influence in the country’s politics since its independence 76 years ago, they have maintained that they do not interfere in political matters.
Smaller political parties may also have a significant impact on the government formation, as a total of 169 seats out of the 336-member National Assembly are needed to form a government. Out of the 266 directly elected seats, there are also 70 reserved seats for women and non-Muslims, allocated according to the number of seats won by each party.
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