Unrest and Uncertainty: Post-Election Turmoil in Pakistan
The recent national elections in Pakistan have sparked controversy and unrest, with former prime ministers Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif both claiming victory amidst allegations of voter fraud and political restrictions. The country faces economic challenges, internal insurgencies, and strained international relations, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the incoming government and its ability to address Pakistan's multitude of issues.
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CQ Press Lecture Spark FEBRUARY 12, 2024 Connecting current events to your International Relations classroom
Pakistani Election Raises Many Concerns On Thursday, February 8th voters in Pakistan went to the polls to participate in national and state elections. There are 128 million registered voters in Pakistan and Pakistani s came out in large numbers to have their voice heard in the recent election. Candidates affiliated with former prime minister Imran Khan won a plurality of seats in the National Assembly. Despite this another former prime minister Nawaz Sharif claimed victory and promised to form a coalition government since no party won an outright majority of seats. Meanwhile Mr. Khan declared victory in his own unique way aided by artificial intelligence because he is currently incarcerated. What happened in Pakistan? 2
Pakistani Election Raises Many Concerns Imran Khan is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence on a variety of charges including corruption, revealing state secrets, and a fraudulent marriage. Mr. Khan has drawn support from younger voters who feel neglected and view him as an outsider willing to challenge the establishment, which includes the military and political dynasties. The election was unusual considering the restrictions placed on Khan s Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf party (PTI). The PTI political symbol, a cricket bat was barred from appearing on the ballot and instead PTI backed candidates had to run as independents. This was a major issue in a country with a high illiteracy rate. In addition, television stations were prohibited from airing Mr. Khan s speeches. What restrictions were placed on the PTI? 3
Background and Key Concepts The South Asian country of Pakistan recently held an election that was mired in controversy. Examples include violence, disruptions to cell phone service, and allegations of voter fraud. The military in Pakistan has traditionally exercised an outsized influence in Pakistani politics. The military establishment has ruled the country for more than three decades since Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. And despite not officially having held power for over a decade and a half the military often behind the scenes has exerted political authority. Numerous challenges confront Pakistan one of which includes the economy. The country is facing the toughest economic situation in its history, with inflation at 30 percent and 40 percent of the country s 230 million people living in poverty. The nuclear armed country has tense relations with its rival India and just last month Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes with one another. The hope for many is that Pakistan can stabilize before its internal problems spread throughout the region. This will be a tall task considering insurgent and militant groups have stepped up their attacks. 2023 saw more than 1,000 people die in terrorist attacks across the country and was the deadliest year in a decade for members of the military and law enforcement. The question remains will Pakistani s view the incoming governing coalition as legitimate and will the government be able to find solutions to the myriad of problems that plague the country. 4
Assessment Writing: What is the significance of Pakistan s recent election? Debate: Why is their unrest in Pakistan? Poll: What is the most pressing issue confronting Pakistan? Short Answer: What are the ramifications if Pakistan becomes unstable? 5
