Pakistan is heading to the polls to elect its 16th parliament on February 8.
More 128 million voters are registered to elect 266 legislators for the national assembly and 749 for provincial seats, Pakistan’s election commission said.
But political uncertainty, a deteriorating security situation and record high inflation are some of the challenges the country is facing as it holds elections.
On Wednesday two bombings at the election offices in south-west Pakistan killed and injured dozens, officials said.
The two bombs were caused by motorbikes planted with explosives.
Last week, Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets and 14 years along with his wife for illegally selling state gifts.
The leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is barred from standing in the elections.
“Our leader Khan has been jailed in illegal cases, but we still support Khan and we remain committed to vote for our party's independent candidates,” Muhammad Ali Shah, a PTI supporter told The National.
Party supporters as well as observers say the charges against Khan are of a political nature.
Dr Amjad Ali, standing as an independent candidate, but affiliated with the PTI and a former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister, told The National that “opposition parties were free to do campaigns, but PTI-backed candidates are not being allowed to campaign.“
“The way the establishment, bureaucracy, and state are dealing with PTI is increasing public resentment towards them,” he said.
There are 5,121 candidates in this election. They belong either to one of Pakistan’s 167 registered political parties or are independents.
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Attendees at an election campaign rally for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former foreign minister, in Karachi, Pakistan. Bloomberg -
A Pakistan army convoy patrols a road in Hyderabad ahead of Pakistan's general election on February 8. AFP -
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leaders (from left) Walid Iqbal, Ahmad Awais and Raoof Hasan at a press conference in Islamabad. AFP -
Security personnel stand guard near the Pakistan Peoples Party election office in Quetta, after attacks in Balochistan targeted candidates from different political parties. AFP -
Saveera Parkash (fourth right), a Hindu minority candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party, speaks to a shopkeeper during an election campaign rally in the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. AFP -
YouTuber Zeba Waqar, an election candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, addresses a women's convention in Lahore. AFP -
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a campaign rally in Karachi, Pakistan. Bloomberg -
Attendees during an election campaign rally for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Karachi, Pakistan. Bloomberg -
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, sister of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addresses supporters during an election rally in Larkana, Pakistan. EPA -
Supporters of Tehreek-e-Insaf party chairman and barrister Gohar Ali Khan attend a campaign rally in Buner, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. AFP) -
Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, centre, waves to his supporters as he arrive to address an election campaign rally, in Murree, Punjab. AP Photo / Zubair Abbasi) -
Electoral posters and banners of the Pakistan Peoples Party ar on display ahead of general elections in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA -
Workers prepare voting materials at a distribution centre in Hyderabad. (Photo by Akram SHAHID / AFP) -
A policeman stands guard as a worker sorts ballot boxes to be sent to polling stations, at an Election Commission office in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
Shabir Gigyani, an advocate of Pakistan's Supreme Court, told The National that “the weak political structure persists as political entities consistently lean on the establishment for support.”
The army is locally referred to as the establishment. The military, however, has repeatedly denied interfering in the country’s politics.
Economy woes
Pakistan is struggling with high inflation and steep prices. The inflation rate, according to Pakistan’s Bureau of Statistics, stood at more than 29 per cent in January. The highest inflation rate on record was 37.9 per cent in May last year.
The economic troubles the country is facing have led to distrust of politicians among many Pakistanis.
‘’Elections may not bring political and economic stability to Pakistan, we are hopeless from all of the political parties leaders,” Ibad Ullah, a Ph.D student, told The National.
Analyst and author Fakhar Kakakhel said the country's stability relies on free and fair elections, leading to democratic governance.
"Political leaders must demonstrate maturity and sincerity for the new government's success,” he said.
Security concerns
Pakistan is facing a surge in violence, limiting voters' ability to participate in political gatherings.
This week, ten officers were killed and six wounded in an attack on a police station in the southern district of Dera Ismail Khan.
Last month, an independent candidate was shot and killed in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
That same day, a leader of the Awami National Party was killed during a party campaign event in Balochistan province.
Political rallies and corner meetings have drawn less engagement from the public.
Aslam Ghauri, spokesman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) told The National that security agencies were struggling to tackle regional security problems.
“Daily, terrorism is affecting JUI-F and its election campaign. But despite the challenges, we won’t boycott, we’ll continue the fight," he said.
Figures compiled by the Centre for Research and Security Studies show Pakistan had more than 1,500 violence-related deaths, as well as 1,463 injuries, from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023.
This marks a 56 per cent surge in violence, marking a six-year high.
Syed Irfan Ashraf, a defence analyst and assistant professor at Peshawar University’s journalism department, told The National that Pakistan has a history of political instability and security challenges during elections, citing instances in 2002 and 2008 marked by targeted killings.
He said there was a "a new wave of terror against parties opposing the establishment."
The country's last elections in 2018 had a 51 per cent turnout.
Former police chief of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Ali Shah, said while there were security concerns, the elections would proceed smoothly.
“I believe that there will be threats of terrorism and various incidents may occur, but they are less likely on a large scale to postpone elections,” Mr Shah told The National.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi recently said the government had made arrangements to ensure security and integrity of the process, providing protection for polling stations.
