No clear winner likely in Pakistan as voting continues today: report
text_fields
Islamabad: Voting is taking place in Pakistan on Thursday to elect a new government amid concerns of rising militant attacks, wobbling economy and chaotic politics.
Poll pundits are clueless about the outcome of the election with news agency Reuters reporting the likelihood of, citing analysts, ‘no clearer winner’ emerging afterwards.
However, parties led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, three-time premier Nawaz Sharif and former premier Benazir Bhutto’ son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are taking on each other, with Nawaz Sharif showing an edge over others.
Imran Khan, currently doing time in jail, is barred from contesting alongside being denied using his party symbol of cricket bat for his party candidates.
‘Only a huge turnout in favour of PTI can change its fortunes,’ Reuters quoted columnist Abbas Nasir as saying.
However, analysts believe that the country’s powerful military establishment will play a pivotal role in forming the new government.
Pakistan's military has the history of intervening in the country’s politics directly and indirectly since Independence from Britain.
‘The deciding factor is which side the powerful military and its security agencies are on,’ Abbas Nasir reportedly said.
Since leaving cricket Imran Khan emerged as one the country’s towering politicians with his party PTI coming to power in the national elections last time.
However, no confidence motion led to his fall fueling political crisis when Imran Khan began taking out aggressive rallies.
Khan reportedly believes that the military establishment was behind his fall; alongside, analysts and opponents now say that generals are backing Nawaz Sharif.
Only difference is Khan is believed to have been previously supported by the military and Sharif was in jail facing corruption charges, according to the report.
The nation is predicted to be facing graver crisis if elections fail to bring out a clearer winner because the economic challenges need a stable government.
