This 241 million-person nation with a majority of Muslims is set to elect a civilian parliament for the third time in its history. With a lengthy history of military rule and dictatorship, this is a first for a state where no prime minister has ever served out their entire term. This should be cause for celebration.
However, the voting on February 8th is still happening behind closed doors due to purported military meddling.
There have always been difficulties surrounding elections in this country, but this one seems to be more than the others. Not the least of which is the fact that one former prime minister is incarcerated and unable to stand while another has returned from self-imposed exile, his
convictions for crimes erased.
What you should know about the Pakistani poll is provided below.
What makes this election significant?
Pakistan is fiercely hostile to India, borders Iran and Taliban-held Afghanistan, harbors mixed feelings toward the United States, and maintains close ties with China. In this nuclear-armed state, the outcome is crucial.
Politicians in the nation have been occupied with squabbling over who will obtain that authority for the past few years. In 2022, they toppled the last elected prime minister, Imran Khan, and installed a coalition government in his stead.
In August of last year, an unelected caretaker administration took over from that coalition; elections were scheduled for November. The election is now taking place following delays that officials claimed were brought on by the census.
Many believe that stable leadership is now necessary, not only to handle events like the recent tit-for-tat missile strikes with Iran, which many worried may escalate into something worse, but also to maintain the financial support and investment that the government so desperately needs.
But a cursory glance at the leaders indicates anything but stability.
