In a dramatic twist that has upended Pakistan's political landscape, the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan has orchestrated a stunning comeback, forming a coalition to block the path of his rival, Nawaz Sharif.
The move comes after a week of electoral chaos and widespread allegations of vote-rigging. Despite Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party being barred from the ballot, its members, running as independents, secured a surprising number of seats, effectively denying Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) a majority.
An Unlikely Alliance Forged
In a power play that has sent shockwaves through the nation, the PTI-backed independents have joined forces with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by the influential Bhutto-Zardari family. This new coalition, announced late Tuesday, claims the numbers to form a government and has nominated its own candidate for prime minister.
The agreement throws the plans of Nawaz Sharif, who had prematurely declared victory, into complete disarray. His PML-N party, which was widely expected to be ushered into power with the backing of Pakistan's powerful military establishment, now faces a formidable opposition bloc.
A Nation on Edge
The aftermath of the February 8th vote has been marked by tension and protest. Mobile networks were shut down on election day, and the counting of results was inordinately delayed, fuelling suspicions of interference.
PTI supporters and independent watchdogs have decried the process as deeply flawed, accusing authorities of tampering with results to curb the success of Khan's allies. This new coalition is seen as a direct response to those alleged manipulations, a legal and political battle fought from behind bars by the charismatic but jailed former leader.
The coming days are critical as the new alliance moves to solidify its position and present its case to form the next government, setting the stage for a period of intense political uncertainty in the nuclear-armed nation.
