Current Political Developments in Pakistan (2024–2025)
1. General Elections – February 2024
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General elections were held on February 8, 2024 after a delay.
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Independent candidates backed by PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) won the largest number of seats, despite Imran Khan being jailed and barred from contesting.
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Allegations of pre-poll rigging, internet shutdowns, and post-election manipulation were reported.
2. Formation of Coalition Government
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Despite PTI-backed independents winning the most seats, they struggled to form a government.
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PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-N) and PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) formed a coalition government, with Shehbaz Sharif becoming Prime Minister again.
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Asif Ali Zardari was elected President in March 2024.
3. Imran Khan’s Legal Battles
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Imran Khan remains imprisoned on multiple charges (Toshakhana case, cipher case, etc.).
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PTI claims his arrest and disqualification are politically motivated.
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PTI has been demanding a fair judicial process and release of political prisoners.
4. Civil-Military Relations
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The military continues to play a significant behind-the-scenes role in politics.
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Accusations of military interference in elections and political engineering remain a controversial topic.
5. Judiciary Under Pressure
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The judiciary is under scrutiny for allegedly favoring certain political parties.
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Recent decisions, including those related to elections and disqualifications, have raised questions about judicial independence.
6. Economic Challenges
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The new coalition government is facing serious economic challenges: inflation, IMF conditionalities, and energy crises.
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There are ongoing talks with the IMF for a new bailout package.
7. Protests and Political Mobilization
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PTI supporters have been staging protests for electoral justice.
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Government has been accused of crackdowns on peaceful protests, media, and social media platforms.
8. Electoral Reforms Debate
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There is ongoing debate over the role of the Election Commission, introduction of electronic voting, and transparency in elections.
9. Foreign Policy Shifts
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Pakistan is strengthening ties with Gulf countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia), China (CPEC phase 2), and attempting to normalize relations with the US after tensions during Imran Khan’s term.
