Pakistanis go to polls amid political strife and security challenges

Pakistan is heading to the polls to elect its 16th parliament tomorrow.

The country’s election commission said more than 128 million voters are registered to elect 266 legislators for the national assembly and 749 for provincial seats.

Political uncertainty, a deteriorating security situation and record high inflation are some of the challenges the country is facing.

Last week, Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking state secrets and 14 years for illegally selling state gifts.

Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 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 and observers say the charges against Khan are political.

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,” said Mr Ali.

There are 5,121 candidates in this election and they belong either to one of Pakistan’s 167 registered political parties or are independents.

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.

Pakistan’s inflation rate stood at more than 29 per cent in January, Pakistan’s Bureau of Statistics said.

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.

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.

Pakistan is facing a surge in violence, limiting voters’ ability to participate in political gatherings.

This week, 10 officers were killed and six wounded in an attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan.