Pakistan is set to hold legislative elections on the eighth of this month to elect members of the National Assembly (parliament) and the four regional parliaments in the country. The vote comes in the Muslim-majority country with a population of approximately 250 million, amidst a crackdown on the leader of the Justice Movement party and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and amid security threats in some remote areas.
Approximately 150 political parties, along with dozens of independents, are competing in the elections for seats in the federal parliament and the four regional parliaments.
The article featured the most prominent parties in the country, some of which have been in power, and others that have significant regional or local influence. It also highlighted smaller parties that represent a specific ideology, ethnicity, or region, and the diverse challenges in Pakistan.
Justice Movement
The Pakistani Justice Movement party, founded by former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, leans towards the center-right. The party is currently led by Jehangir Ali Khan.
Imran Khan (71 years old) rose to power by winning the 2018 elections. However, in the years that followed, the military establishment, which seemed to support him in that vote, turned against him by ousting Imran Khan from his position through a vote of no confidence in parliament, the first of its kind in Pakistan’s history.
Khan accuses the United States of conspiring with the Pakistani army and his political opponents to overthrow him. Following his dismissal from office, the party’s supporters and its leader staged massive protests across all Pakistani provinces, demanding early elections.
As the protests continued with clashes between demonstrators and government forces, resulting in some casualties and injuries, as well as arrests and property damage, authorities arrested Imran Khan in May 2023 on corruption charges. His supporters staged widespread protests and targeted civilian and military establishments.
The widespread unrest and clashes forced the deep state to intervene, forcing hundreds of party leaders to leave, and thousands of activists were arrested. Khan, who faced more than 150 cases against him, was convicted of corruption and leaking state secrets.
He was recently sentenced to 3 judicial rulings, the latest of which included him and his wife Bushra Bibi being sentenced to 7 years in prison, with a fine, as their 2018 marriage was declared null and a violation of the law. Khan was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets and 14 years with his wife on charges of illegally selling state gifts.
Although there are visible obstacles in his path, the Justice Movement party enjoys widespread popular support across the country, which may work in its favor.
Seats won in 2013: 28.
Seats won in 2018: 116.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who came to power three times, most recently in 2013 with a clear majority.
Sharif (74 years old) was ousted from office in 2017 due to corruption charges. He and his daughter Maryam were sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018, just days before the national elections held the same year.
One prominent figure in the party is Shahbaz Sharif (72 years old), Nawaz’s younger brother and former prime minister of Punjab, which is a stronghold of the party and the area where Sharif was ousted in 2022 after Imran Khan’s ouster. During the months that Shahbaz served as prime minister, the country faced significant economic challenges, with a substantial increase in inflation and protests led by the Justice Movement party.
Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan in October after four years of voluntary exile in the United Kingdom. Within weeks, the courts dropped the corruption charges against him, leading many to believe that he was chosen by the military to be the next prime minister of the country.
The most significant challenge facing the Sharif family is regaining their support base from Imran Khan, who remains a popular force, despite facing several convictions, especially among youth living in urban areas with a strong presence on social media.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is still the frontrunner before the elections. While Sharif senior is the overall leader of the party, it is not clear which of the brothers might lead the parliament if the party wins enough seats.
Seats won in 2013: 126.
Seats won in 2018: 64.
Pakistan People’s Party
The Pakistan People’s Party, affiliated with the center-left, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father Asif Ali Zardari (former president), aims to return to power for the first time since 2008. The party was founded by his maternal grandfather and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, then led by his mother, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who served twice.
The Bhutto scion, in his second election bid, served as foreign minister under the government that followed Imran Khan’s in 2022.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (35 years old) is a young leader competing with party leaders in their seventh decade and most of whom have more than 20 years of political experience. He faces challenges, particularly criticisms of his party’s governance of the Sindh region during the past four periods, especially after the catastrophic floods in 2022 that devastated a significant portion of the region.
His platform and campaign focus on engaging with the youth in the country, with ambitious plans to combat climate change. If he becomes prime minister (which is unlikely), he will follow in the footsteps of his mother, who became the country’s first executive leader at the same age in 1988.
Seats won in 2013: 34.
Seats won in 2018: 43.
Awami National Party (ANP)
The Awami National Party is a Pashtun nationalist party, primarily active in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with a center-left ideology led by Asfandyar Wali Khan. However, it faces allegations of corruption and has been out of power for close to two decades.
The party was part of an 11-party alliance that ousted Imran Khan. However, internal rifts led to a split in August 2016 between a London faction and a Pakistani faction following a fiery speech by the exiled leader Asfandyar Wali Khan. When the opportunity arose to join the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance, the divided factions and branches of the Awami National Party were unified.
Previous quasi-military operations targeted the party and its alleged ties to gangs in Karachi, damaging its popularity in the Sindh region.
Its support mainly lies in Karachi and neighboring cities, which have substantial populations from the 1947 Indian subcontinent partition migration. The Awami National Party-Pakistani will compete against independents affiliated with the Justice Movement party, the Islamic group, the Pakistan People’s Party, and independent young candidates to attempt to regain their base.
Seats won in 2013: 2.
Seats won in 2018: 1.
United National Movement
The United National Movement is the largest political force in Karachi, the capital of the Sindh region, and the country’s largest city and economic backbone for almost three decades. Historically, it formed alliances with the ruling parties at the national level.
It was part of the alliance with the Justice Movement party after the 2018 elections but shifted its allegiance to the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance after April 2022, which ousted Imran Khan. However, relinquished the National Movement split into London and Pakistani factions following a fiery speech by its exiled leader Altaf Hussain in August 2016.
However, when the chance to join the Pakistan Democratic Movement alliance emerged, the divided factions and branches of the United National Movement were unified.
Previous quasi-military operations targeted the party and its alleged ties to criminal gangs in Karachi, damaging its popularity in the Sindh region.
It is the most likely candidate for the Sindh provincial elections.
Seats won in 2013: 18.
Seats won in 2018: 6.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F)
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, is a conservative Islamic party. It is one of the oldest political parties in Pakistan and is known for its strong party organization but has failed to achieve good results at the polls.
For years, the party has been out of power, with its last success in the 2002 elections during President Pervez Musharraf’s rule. It primarily targets the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and focuses on Karachi, led by its relatively young leader Hafiz Naim.
Following its excellent performance in the recent local elections in Karachi, the party aims to promote a more moderate agenda focusing on development and hopes to attract voters.
Seats won in 2013: 2.
Seats won in 2018: 12, (in the religious parties alliance).
Independent Parties
Aside from the remaining candidates in the Justice Movement party who need to run as independents due to legal issues faced by the party, these elections will witness a significant number of independent candidates. Alongside these are independent young candidates without significant political affiliations.
Historically, independent candidates have often ended up joining the party that wins the most seats in parliament.
Seats won by Independents in 2018: 13.
The essence of the original article has been preserved in the translation, and the information has been presented in a format suitable for English-speaking audiences.
