Tension surrounding the 8 February general elections

A high-stakes election amid a poor political and security situation

Following a political crisis of nearly two years, exacerbated by the removal from office of former Prime Minister Imran Khan (2018-2022), Pakistan is preparing to hold elections for its national and provincial assemblies 8 February. Initially, the elections were scheduled to be held in November 2023, but were officially postponed due to delays in the “re-delimitation” of certain election constituencies. The opposition saw it as a political manoeuvre by the military establishment aimed at preparing the field for the victory of their favourite “loyalist” against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Movement for Justice, PTI), Imran Khan ‘s party.