An election for and against Imran Khan

February 15, 2024

NEW DELHI – The elections results have come in Pakistan. The Independents supported by Imran Khan have got 92 seats in a house of 266 and are ahead of the Muslim League (Nawaz) led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (78 seats) and PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) led by former President Asif Ali Zardari (56 seats). It is a perspicacious fact that the elections were rigged ones.

Obviously post-poll horse trading is expected. It seems that Pakistan is headed for an alliance between PML(N), PPP, MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) and other smaller parties. In fact it can be said that the establishment would support such an alliance. Other permutations and combinations are also possible depending on how the independents behave and the extent of their loyalty to Imran and his PTI. In the provinces the results are that in Sindh the PPP will form the government again as expected. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the independents backed by the PTI are expected to form the government in some manner once it is decided how they will act together in the absence of a party to unite them.

In Punjab, the picture is similar to, and as confused as, the one at the national level. Here too some kind of coalition will form the government. Perhaps the effort of the PML (N) will be to get as many PTI-backed independents as possible to its side. But the moral victory rests with PTI. The election was always going to be a vote for and against Imran Khan. The PML-N campaign did not address that or succeed in selling itself as a viable alternative for the future to the voters. It abandoned its ‘vote ko izzat do’ slogan which had resonated with millions across the country. That strategy blew up in the PML-N’s face. As he made his ‘victory