National Assembly elections will be held in Pakistan on February 8 (Thursday). About 250 million Pakistanis will give their verdict on the formation of the new government through this election of the lower house of the parliament. Like most democracies, Pakistan's political parties have diverse ideological positions.
Here is a brief introduction to the main parties in the country:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
The moderate Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, came to power for a third term in 2013 with an absolute majority.
However, Sharif (74) was removed from power in 2017. He could not complete his term due to corruption allegations against him. A few days before the national elections in 2018, he and his daughter Maryam were sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Nawaz's younger brother and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, a party stronghold, took over as prime minister in 2022. As part of an alliance called the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the PMLN later passed a vote of no confidence in Imran Khan and his government. In this, Imran, who came to power in 2018, was deposed.
Seats won in 2018: 64
Seats won in 2013: 126
PTI
PTI was founded by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. Currently it is headed by Gohar Ali Khan.
Imran came to power after winning the 2018 elections. It is believed that Imran had the support of the military in that election. But within a few years the military turned against him. As a result, Imran was ousted through a vote of no confidence in the parliament. This is the first such incident in the history of Pakistan.
Imran alleged that the US conspired against him along with Pakistan's military and his political rivals. However, all concerned have denied the allegations. After his ouster, Imran led protests across the country demanding early elections.
At one point in these protests, Imran was arrested on charges of corruption in May last year. His activists targeted civilian and military installations on rampages.
More than 150 cases have been filed against Imran. He has already been convicted in four cases. On January 31, a special court sentenced Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 years in prison in a Toshakhana case for allegedly buying government gifts at low prices.
A day before this, on January 30, Imran Khan was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the case of leaking state secret documents. In the same case, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also sentenced to 10 years in jail by the court.
Imran and Bushra were then sentenced to seven years in prison on February 3 for marrying in violation of Sharia law. Earlier on August 5 last year, Imran was sentenced to three years imprisonment in a separate case related to Toshakhana corruption.
Imran's party has been stripped of its election symbol 'cricket bat' and its candidates are now forced to contest as independents. Despite these obstacles, PTI has a huge popularity across the country. This may benefit Imran.
Seats won in 2018: 116
Seats won in 2013: 28
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
The centre-left Pakistan People's Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father Asif Ali Zardari, is trying to return to power for the first time since 2008.
The party was founded by Bilawal's maternal grandfather and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was later led by his mother and two-time Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto. The 35-year-old Bilawal has a lot to do to be a worthy successor.
Bilawal is contesting the second round of elections. After the ouster of Imran Khan in 2022, he was the foreign minister under the 11-party coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Seats won in 2018: 43
Seats won in 2013: 34
Awami National Party (ANP)
The Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party is based mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwestern region. The party wants to defeat PTI in the provincial government.
The center-left party led by Wali Khan of Asfandia is progressive and secular in principle. But the party has been dogged by corruption allegations and has been out of power for nearly two decades. The ANP was a partner of the 11-party alliance PDM.
Seat won in 2018: 1
Seat won in 2013: 2
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P)
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan was the biggest political force in Karachi, the country's largest city and economic backbone, for nearly three decades.
In the past they have always formed alliances with the leading parties of the country nationally. The party had tied up with the PTI after the 2018 elections. But after April 2022 they joined hands with PDM.
Seats won in 2018: 6
Seats won in 2013: 18
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)
The party led by Siraj-ul-Haq is right-wing. The core of their manifesto revolves around religion. One of the oldest parties in Pakistan, it is known to be quite strong organizationally, but has not made much headway in the electoral battle.
The party has been out of power for decades. But they did well in 2002 elections. That election was held under General Pervez Musharraf, who seized power through a coup.
Seats won in 2018: 12 (as part of a coalition of religious parties)
Seat won in 2013: 2
Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F)
The right-wing party led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman aims to regain lost regional ground. They especially want to regain power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
They lost to PTI in the province. Fazal-ur-Rehman also heads the PDM alliance. He is desperate to do well in the polls using his wide religious contacts.
Seats won in 2018: 12 (as part of a coalition of religious parties)
Seats won in 2013: 11
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP)
The Pashtun nationalist group is mainly active in Balochistan province. PKMAP was a partner in the last coalition government in the province.
Mahmud Khan Achakzai is the leader of the party, which is considered to be a progressive centre-left. Pakistan's poorest province has the fewest seats (16) in the National Assembly.
Seat won in 2018: Nil
Seats won in 2013: 3
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP)
The journey of Balochistan Awami Party started in 2018. The current interim prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq is one of the founders of the party.
Since its inception, the party has seen a mix of disparate politicians from different tribes of Balochistan and attempts to maintain ties with Pakistan's powerful military. The party formed an alliance with the PTI in the 2018 elections.
Seat won in 2018: 4
Seat won in 2013: Not applicable
Awami Workers Party (AWP)
The left-wing Awami Workers Party is relatively new and less powerful than other mainstream parties. The party has been campaigning against austerity.
They have been appealing to the voters who are disillusioned with the existing political system of the country and are presenting alternatives in this regard. Although only three of their candidates are contesting for the National Assembly across the country.
Seat won in 2018: Nil
Seat won in 2013: Ni
Haqq-e-Khalq Party (HKP)
The Socialist Haquk-e-Khalq Party is contesting for the first time in the 2024 elections. The party has fielded youth candidates in the PMLN stronghold of Lahore.
Like the AWP, the HKP is also suffering from a financial crisis. Due to this, more constituencies are not able to give candidates. HKP will contest with two National Assembly candidates and one provincial candidate in only one city.
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP)
In June last year, Istehqam-e-Pakistan Party was founded by Jahangir Tareen, one of Pakistan's richest businessmen. In the past, he was a close confidant of Imran and used to donate to PTI.
The moderate party made its debut just a month after Imran's PTI faced state persecution last year.
independents
PTI candidates have to contest as independents due to legal complications. Apart from this, a large number of independent candidates, who are not affiliated with any party, will be seen in this election. Some of these rivals were associated with PTI in the past. But this time they themselves are participating in the election as independents.
The rest are independent candidates without mainstream political affiliation, most of whom are young. Historically, independent candidates almost always join the party with the most seats in the National Assembly.
Seats won in 2018: 13
Seats won in 2013: 27
Read more: Who are the key players in Pakistan elections
Read more: Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi sentenced to 7 years for `illegal' marriage
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