Pakistan elections

Pakistan is going to elect a new government today, a historic event that will mark only the country’s second ever democratic transition of power. Four main contenders for power are former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party Muslim League-N (ML-N), former President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), cricketer-turned-politician Imran’s Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf (PTI) and a religious parties amalgam Muttahidah Majlis Amal (MMA). Nawaz Sharif is not personally in the contest as he was disqualified by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for life last year over corruption charges. His brother Shahbaz Shrif, who has the experience of running the country’s biggest state Punjab for years, is the leading light and the probable Prime Ministerial candidate. Shahbaz may not be matching the political profile of Nawaz Sharif but he is regarded as more shrewd and insightful than his brother. He is deemed as fully qualified to run the country if given a chance. Punjab, which forms more than half of the overall seats of the country’s parliament or National Assembly, is seen as the bastion of his party. Nawaz Sharif may be physically out of Pakistani elections but he is regarded as the main planner and schemer for Shahbaz to lead the nation. Sharifs are facing a tough challenge from Imran Khan’s PTI. Corruption is a major issue in Pakistan this time. While PML-N is quite infamous for holding record in corruption, Imran Khan too has got a major share of corrupt politicians in his party. But the Khan personally holding a clean image is making a difference in the two competing parties. Though the picture is yet hazy and nothing could be said with authority but Sharifs are still regarded as ahead of the captain as Imran Khan is known as, who is also reported to be having tacit support of the military establishment. PML-N is also reported to have enough support in Baluchistan as well. PPP, over the years, has now almost become a regional party with having its support only in Sindh province. It is still its ground in Sindh though; both, Imran Khan and Sharifs have made inroads in the province. The MMA is considerable support in Khaiber Pakhtunkhwa KPK). Imran Khan is also counting on support in the province. His party was in power in KPK in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. Regardless of who takes the charge of Islamabad, Pakistan is presently facing a barrage of problems that need immediate and serious attention.  The issues in Pakistan are simply as common as what all third world countries perceive. The economy is in total disarray with debt swelling. China and IMF have come to rescue but there’s a limit to everything. The Pakistani currency and economy both will need a decisive leader. Its foreign exchange reserves have dropped from 16 billion dollars to 9 billion in the last month. It is in essential need of a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, after the current account deficit doubled this year. What had added to its woes more is that the international money-laundering watchdog FATF has put Pakistan back on its “grey list”, for its “insufficient efforts to combat financing of terrorism”. And a financial slowdown could reduce the leeway to protect the country from a water crisis, or bolster decrepit hospitals and schools. With almost no foreign ministry functional in Pakistan for last few years, the Pak lobby in other countries finds no shelter. Even the Islamic organization too has denied support which says a lot about the leadership vacuum in the country. It is chance for Pakistan people to throw up a capable leadership that would take Pakistan out of the present mess.