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OPINION FEBRUARY 23, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

Pakistan election 2024:

WHO IS THE

REAL WINNER?

Political instability will add to the country’s economic predicaments as

it faces severe economic challenges

SMRUTI S PATTANAIK

n February 8, 2024, Paki-
stanis voted for their 16th
Oparliamentary election, which
many initially speculated would be
postponed and, if held, rigged in fa-
vour of the Pakistan Muslim League
(N). However, the election results
brought interesting numbers—none
of the parties got the majority. A total
of 101 independent candidates, most
of whom were supported by the Paki-
stan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), have the
largest number of seats. Announce-
ment of the results was inordinately
delayed in some constituencies. The
suspension of mobile service on vot-
ing day gave rise to the rumour of
rigging.
How are we to interpret this
fractured mandate? The votes each
political party drew reflect that it is
essentially against the Army’s politi-
cal interference, which Imran Khan
championed after he was ousted
from power. If the past is an indica-
tor, the parties’ lack of majority in
the Parliament and formation of a Nawaz Sharif has withdrawn from the prime ministerial race and has blessed his younger brother, Shehbaz,
coalition will make the government to become the premier for the second time (File photo)
susceptible to manipulation by the
Army. stan Peoples Party (PPP) has won 54 Asif Ali Zardari, who was the Pres- X account captioned this coalition as
PDM GOVERNMENT II? seats whereas the Muttahida Qaumi ident of Pakistan from 2008-13, is “mandate thieves”.
Since the independent candi- Movement (Pakistan) (MQM-P) has set to assume the office of presiden- After removing Imran Khan
dates, despite winning the largest attained 17 seats. cy again, while Maryam Nawaz will from premiership through a no-con-
number of seats in the 266 direct- On February 13, six political be sworn in as the chief minister of fidence vote in April 2022, the oppo-
ly elected constituencies, are not parties, including PML-N, PPP, Punjab, the province that determines sition parties formed a 13-party Paki-
organised as a political party, they PML-Q (Quaid), Istehkam-e-Paki- the political fortune of parties as it is stan Democratic Movement (PDM)
cannot stake claim to form the gov- stan Party (IPP), Balochistan Awa- the largest province with the largest government. This government, led
ernment. Out of the independents, mi Party (BAP), Muttahida Qaumi number of seats in Pakistan’s Na- by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,
93 were supported by the PTI. The Movement Pakistan came togeth- tional Assembly. While welcoming empowered the Army by passing acts
PML-N, which has emerged as the er to form a coalition government. the PTI to join the coalition, Asif Ali like the Army Amendment Bill, the
largest party with 75 seats, is short The consensus candidate for prime Zardari, who took the lead in this ne- Official Secrets Amendment and the
of a majority in Parliament and is in minister was Shehbaz Sharif, young- gotiation, said that their “economic Criminal Law Amendment Bill that
talks with other political parties to er brother of Nawaz Sharif and the and defence agenda should be com- prevented criticism of the Army. The
form the next government. The Paki- outgoing prime minister of Pakistan. mon”. But interestingly, the PTI in Continued on next page... >>

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