Pakistan election 2024: Who is running and what are the key issues?

ISLAMABAD: About 128 million voters are heading to the polls on Thursday (Feb 8) to elect a new government in Pakistan.

Many are hoping that the election will bring an era of change in the nuclear-armed nation struggling under the weight of political instability and economic woes.

But the vote – already delayed by a year – has been marred by claims of rigging, alleged military interference and other controversies.

WHO IS IN THE RACE?

Of the over 40 political parties vying for the 266 seats up for grabs in the National Assembly, three parties dominate Pakistan’s politics.

Following the polls, the new parliament will elect the next prime minister. If no party wins an outright majority, a coalition government may be formed.

Widely considered to be the man to beat is Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Sharif was prime minister – in 1990, 1997 and 2013 – and is gunning for the top job for a fourth time. This comes after the courts overturned his corruption convictions as well as a lifetime election ban last December. 

Another prominent contender is Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the son of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

While he is not widely tipped by political watchers to win the election, his Pakistan People's Party (PPP) could end up playing a key role in forming a coalition government if there is no clear winner.

However, it is the nation’s last elected prime minister Imran Khan – and his absence – that is dominating headlines and discussions.

IMRAN KHAN BEHIND BARS

Arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, Khan is currently in prison on charges he has said are politically motivated. 

He was given lengthy jail sentences in recent months on multiple convictions, including for corruption and unlawful marriage, and is facing more.

The 71-year-old has been banned from holding public office for an accumulated term of 10 years.

Khan has maintained his innocence and said the offences have been fabricated by the military-led establishment to stop him from contesting elections and destroy his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the Pakistan Movement for Justice party.

The former international cricket star rose to the nation’s highest political office in 2018 before being ousted from power in 2022, after falling out of favour with the powerful military.

Supporters have viewed the barrage of legal setbacks as a deliberate attempt to limit PTI’s success at the ballot boxes, and said that Khan’s incarceration is stopping the country from holding a free and fair election.

Both the military and Pakistan’s caretaker government have denied suppressing Khan or his party.

PTI FACES UPHILL BATTLE

Despite this, the embattled PTI party believes it can still command significant support, especially from the youth, who account for nearly 45 per cent of registered voters.

Many young Pakistanis disillusioned with corruption and unemployment have flocked to Khan’s camp in recent years.

“They (PTI) want the voter turnout on polling day to be enormous. They believe that will put them in a position to obviously gain momentum. This is what they are betting on,” said Islamabad-based journalist and political analyst Raja Faisal.

The party has turned to technology to reach out to voters, using artificial intelligence (AI) to allow Khan to canvass for votes – even from behind bars.

A virtual event on social media using a replicated voice to deliver a four-minute speech written by Khan was watched by more than a million people.

Still, the party faces an uphill battle. It has been banned from using its iconic cricket bat symbol that helps illiterate voters identify its candidates on ballot papers.

The country’s election commission in December stripped PTI of the symbol on technical grounds that the party had not held internal elections, a prerequisite for any political party to take part in national polls.

PTI candidates now need to contest using individual symbols, which could confuse voters.

VOTER SENTIMENTS

Elections in Pakistan are usually exuberant affairs. However, this year’s lead-up to the polls appears to be muted by the economic turmoil faced by the nation.

Inflation is hovering at 30 per cent, the Pakistani rupee is struggling internationally, and the country is trying to navigate a recovery path under a US$3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.

For many Pakistanis, calming rampant inflation and making daily necessities more affordable are the pressing concerns in this election.

CNA asked voters in the capital Islamabad what they thought about the upcoming election.

“I don't know if I'm hopeful, but right now we are hopeless, so the only solution is cast your votes and bring in a new government,” said one resident.

Another voter said: “We are desperately waiting for somebody to come and take Pakistan out of the current unfortunate situation.

"So anybody who is willing to come and work sincerely to pull Pakistan out of the struggle, we are okay with it."

Some are optimistic that the election can curb political unrest and put the world’s fifth most populous country on the path to economic recovery.

“(The election is) a positive development,” said a voter.

“This is going to bring economic and political stability in the country, which is good in the medium- and long-term.”

ONGOING CHALLENGES

There are also mounting challenges on other fronts, including catastrophic climate disasters, fractured ties with neighbouring countries and persistent threats of terrorism.

Security has been increased in the wake of a recent resurgence in terror attacks.

Political analysts believe it remains a major issue, especially since the re-establishment of Taliban rule in neighbouring Afghanistan.

“(Militant activities do) penetrate and get facilitation in Pakistan. It is a huge challenge. Whoever comes into the premier office will be thinking about it from the very first day about how to sort this out,” said Faisal.

With just a day to go before the election, twin explosions killed at least 24 people in the southwestern Balochistan province.

Political analysts said decades of unstable governance created the country's multiple crises. No prime minister has served a full term in office in its 76-year history. 

Whoever wins the upcoming elections faces the difficult task of dealing with the many pressing issues at hand.