Shruti Suman
In the midst of political upheaval and an ongoing economic crisis, Pakistan’s parliament was dissolved late last night upon the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, setting the stage for a forthcoming general election. This dissolution clears the path for an interim government to oversee the elections, barring former Prime Minister Imran Khan from participating.
Khan was imprisoned over the weekend following a conviction on corruption charges in one of the numerous cases filed against him since his removal from office in April 2022.
Elections within 90 Days
The Pakistani president has granted the outgoing government three days to appoint a new temporary prime minister and 90 days to conduct the general elections. Nonetheless, the outgoing government has cautioned that the elections might be postponed until the following year.
According to reports, the Pakistani government is contemplating delaying the elections due to struggles in managing security and political challenges that pose a threat to an already financially strained nation.
The instability in Pakistan has also raised concerns in the United States.
“We are undoubtedly concerned about any actions—especially violent actions—that could contribute to instability in Pakistan or, to be honest, any other country with which we share a common set of interests, particularly in counterterrorism,” stated White House official John Kirby, as quoted by the news agency AFP.
Imran Khan Pushed to the Margins
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), secured the most seats in the previous general elections held in 2018. The former cricket star was sworn in as prime minister three days later.
With another set of general elections on the horizon, Pakistan’s military, which has orchestrated at least three successful coups since 1947, once again casts a shadow over the troubled nation.
Experts believe that both Khan’s rise to popularity and subsequent removal were significantly influenced by the military, with which he consistently clashed. The former Pakistan cricket captain led a campaign against the military, alleging its interference in politics. He even accused an intelligence officer of being the “mastermind” behind an assassination attempt on him in November, during which he sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.
Despite organizing protests for early elections and withdrawing PTI lawmakers from the parliament, Khan’s opposition to the military ultimately faltered as he faced over 200 legal cases.
