The outgoing government of Pakistan has been given three days to appoint a new interim prime minister, as the country faces political turmoil and an ongoing economic crisis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recommended the dissolution of parliament, paving the way for a general election. However, former prime minister Imran Khan, who was removed from office in April 2022, will be unable to participate in the upcoming elections as he has been jailed for corruption.
The Pakistani president has set a deadline of three days for the outgoing government to appoint a new interim prime minister and 90 days to hold general elections. However, there are concerns that the elections may be delayed until next year due to security and political challenges that threaten to destabilize the already cash-strapped country.
The instability in Pakistan has also raised concerns in the United States. White House official John Kirby expressed concern about any actions, particularly violent ones, that could contribute to instability in Pakistan or any other country with shared interests in counterterrorism.
Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won the most seats in the last general elections held in 2018. Khan, a former cricket star, was sworn in as prime minister three days later. However, with general elections looming again, Pakistan’s military, which has staged multiple successful coups in the past, casts a shadow over the country.
Experts believe that Khan’s popularity and his removal from office were largely influenced by the military, with whom he frequently clashed. Khan accused the military of interfering in politics and even alleged that an intelligence officer was the “mastermind” behind an assassination attempt on him in November, during which he was shot in the leg. Despite staging protests for early elections and pulling his PTI lawmakers from parliament, Khan’s campaign against the military ultimately failed as he faced over 200 cases.
The situation in Pakistan remains uncertain as the country awaits the appointment of a new interim prime minister and the possibility of delayed general elections. The ongoing political and economic challenges continue to pose a threat to the stability of the country.
What are the concerns and potential repercussions, both within Pakistan and internationally, if the general elections are delayed due to security and political challenges in the country
Pakistan Faces Political Turmoil and Economic Crisis as Outgoing Government Given Deadline for Interim Prime Minister
The outgoing government of Pakistan has been given three days to appoint a new interim prime minister, adding to the political turmoil and ongoing economic crisis in the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended the dissolution of parliament in order to pave the way for a general election. However, former prime minister Imran Khan, who was removed from office in April 2022, will be unable to participate in the upcoming elections as he has been jailed for corruption.
The Pakistani president has set a deadline of three days for the outgoing government to appoint a new interim prime minister, with general elections scheduled to be held within the next 90 days. However, concerns have arisen that the elections may be delayed until next year due to security and political challenges that threaten to destabilize the already cash-strapped country.
These uncertainties have also raised concerns beyond Pakistan’s borders, particularly in the United States. White House official John Kirby has expressed worries about any actions, especially violent ones, that could contribute to further instability in Pakistan or any other country with shared interests in counterterrorism efforts.
Notably, Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had won the most seats in the previous general elections held in 2018. Khan, a former cricket star, was sworn in as prime minister just three days later. However, with general elections looming once again, Pakistan’s history of military coups hangs ominously over the country’s political landscape.
Experts believe that Khan’s popularity and subsequent removal from office were largely influenced by the military, with whom he frequently clashed. Khan openly accused the military of interfering in politics and even went so far as to allege that an intelligence officer was the “mastermind” behind an assassination attempt on him in November, during which he sustained a leg injury from being shot. Despite staging protests for early elections and withdrawing his PTI lawmakers from parliament, Khan’s campaign against the military ultimately failed as he faced more than 200 legal cases.
The situation in Pakistan remains uncertain as the country awaits the appointment of a new interim prime minister and the potential for delayed general elections. The ongoing political and economic challenges continue to pose a significant threat to the stability of the country.
