Votes were taken in Pakistan's national elections, leaving one of the two main rivals cornered. Voting was held in 266 seats of the National Assembly of Pakistan on Thursday. The result of this vote will determine who will lead Pakistan for the next five years.
Analysts believe that Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is set to form the government with former prime minister Imran Khan imprisoned and his party PTI under pressure.
There are logical reasons for such assumptions about the results of the polls. It is said that which party will come to power in Pakistan, and who will lose power, depends on the influential army of the country. PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) leader Imran Khan formed the government in 2018 with the blessings of the army.
After four years in 2022, he had to leave the army due to disaffiliation. There is a discussion in the political circles of Pakistan that the support of the army is towards Nawaz Sharif in this election.
As of writing this report at 1:30 pm yesterday, the results of the polls have not been released. However, Nawaz Sharif is optimistic about the victory. After voting at a center in Lahore yesterday, he said, "When the election is over, we will sit and decide who will be the Prime Minister of Pakistan and who will be the Chief Minister of the Punjab province."
In Pakistan yesterday, votes were taken for the election of the National Assembly as well as four provincial assemblies including Punjab.
Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raza said the election was 100% transparent and peaceful. The election process is going on without any hitch. No one was barred from voting.
Criticism of internet shutdown, allegations of rigging
Internet and mobile phone services were suspended across Pakistan during polling yesterday. Apart from this, at least 12 people including policemen were killed in violence in some parts of the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Imran's party PTI has criticized the ban on cell phones and internet during the polls. The party alleged that this was done to rig the polls. International human rights organizations Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have also criticized it.
Apart from this, several PTI leaders have alleged theft of ballot papers and bias against the administration. PTI leaders could not contest the election with their own symbol despite having huge public support in Pakistan. They contested as independent candidates. And PTI founder Imran Khan is now imprisoned after being convicted in multiple cases.
PTI, however, sees public participation in the polls as positive. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, the party said that the illegitimate and fascist government has used all tactics to scare people and keep them away from voting.
Yet, in an unprecedented manner, the people of Pakistan came out of their homes and strongly rejected the oppressive, illegal and fraudulent regime. And in a post on Imran Khan's X handle, people have been urged to 'guard' their votes at night.
Nawaz's 'path to victory cleared'
Imran Khan is in the same pathetic situation as former three-time prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz, the founder of PML-N, voluntarily left the country after several allegations including corruption.
In 2022, the government led by Imran Khan fell in a vote of no confidence in the parliament, and a government was formed under the leadership of Nawaz's brother Shahbaz Sharif. After that, Nawaz returned home from London.
In this situation, Nawaz Sharif and his party PML-N will win the election, according to a report by the US-based research institute Brooklyn Institute. That said, if PTI's independent candidates somehow win the election, it will be a big surprise for the party. According to the organization, this election is against Imran Khan and in favor of Nawaz.
Another US-based research institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, believes that Nawaz's victory as the next prime minister of Pakistan has been cleared. According to one of their reports, Nawaz's party PML-N is going to take control of the country's parliament with the support of the armed forces.
Many analysts believe that if Nawaz Sharif's PML-N does not get a single majority in Parliament, he may form a coalition government with other parties including the PPP. However, Nawaz said yesterday, "For God's sake, don't talk about the coalition government." A single majority for any party is now very important for the country.
In the current situation of Pakistan, Nawaz is a good choice as the Prime Minister of the country, Professor of King's College in London and former diplomat of the United Kingdom, Tim Willesy-Wolsey.
He said, Nawaz Sharif is an experienced person. He has always been adept at balancing relations between the US and China. He will also want good relations with the neighboring country India.
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