Populist and former cricketer Imran Khan is likely to be Pakistan’s next prime minister. The election divided the country more than ever, says Shamil Shams.
Imran Khan achieved his goal. It is likely that the former star of cricket will become the new prime minister of Pakistan. For a time it was not even certain that elections would be held, since its main adversary, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had broken relations with the country’s powerful military.
Sharif – who is currently in jail with his daughter Maryam for allegations of corruption – adopted an increasingly defiant tone with the Army during his tenure. He tried to put national and international politics under his civil government and to improve relations with India and other neighboring countries. He also opposed the position of the military in relation to Islamic militancy in the country. At the international level, Pakistan was accused of using the extremists to destabilize the Afghan government.
In the absence of Sharif from the political scene, the path to Khan’s power seemed to be paved. But Sharif’s return from London just two weeks before the election sparked some hope that his center-right Pakistan Muslim League (PML) party would reappear and defeat the populist Khan party. Even though Sharif was arrested on arrival at the Islamabad airport.
But the first unofficial results have made it clear that Khan’s desire to become prime minister of his country has become a reality.
Anger for alleged electoral fraud
The consequences of this victory could be dangerous for Pakistan. Several parties have already announced that they will protest against the “massive irregularities” in the electoral process, including the second largest party in the country, the PML.
The already polarized country urgently needs a comprehensive reconciliation, especially to face the immense security challenges that afflict it. An attack by the Islamic State in Quetta killed more than 30 people on the day of the elections. This happened after EI perpetrated one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s history in early July in Balochistan province.
It is not good news for a country that is struggling with existential crises on other fronts: acute water shortages, catastrophic energy supplies, high unemployment and rampant inflation are also causing more and more people in Pakistan to lose confidence in parliamentary democracy and resort to banned Islamist groups.
Without reconciliation in sight
But Imran Khan made it clear time and again that it is not he who is going to initiate a process of political reconciliation. It will continue adopting an aggressive stance against its political opponents and that will further polarize the country. At a time when Pakistan needs to improve its relations with the international community, particularly with the United States. UU., Khan is likely to reinforce his populist and anti-Western rhetoric. The PTI leader has repeatedly blamed Washington for the “disaster” in Afghanistan and has even “justified” the actions of the Taliban.
Shamil ShamsThe Financial Action Group against Money Laundering (FATF) recently put Pakistan on the “gray list” of states responsible for financing terrorist activities. In September, the FATF could put the country on the “black list”, which would be devastating, especially for the severely damaged economy of Pakistan.
It’s time to fix things
Pakistan can not maintain its path of international isolation. The international community will continue to demand more openness, more cooperation, more freedom of expression and more democracy. Imran Khan will have to work on these issues; moderate their rhetoric, initiate political reconciliation, improve relations not only with China, but also with EE. United States, and enforce its own constitution on national institutions. Pakistan can not afford to continue on the path of the populist adventure.
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