Pakistan’s Political Turmoil Deepens

Pakistan’s top court made a significant ruling on Friday, granting former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party 23 additional seats in Parliament. This decision is expected to escalate the ongoing political turmoil that has gripped the country since Khan’s removal from power two years ago.

The court’s ruling has stripped the governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of its two-thirds majority in Parliament. This has further weakened Sharif’s already fragile government and emboldened the opposition, primarily led by Khan’s party.

Sharif’s government assumed power five months ago following general elections marred by allegations of electoral rigging orchestrated by the country’s powerful military, which was perceived to have favored Sharif’s coalition over Khan’s party. The military, traditionally influential in Pakistani politics, has been at odds with Khan since his ouster in 2022.

Despite these challenges, candidates aligned with Khan secured a majority of seats in the National Assembly during the previous election, dealing a blow to the military’s perceived dominance. This victory highlighted growing discontent with the military’s involvement in politics following Khan’s removal, which he claimed was orchestrated by the military.

Khan’s imprisonment on what he alleges are politically motivated charges in August further fueled public protests against the military’s perceived interference in governance. Despite winning a majority of elected seats, Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (P.T.I.), was denied any of the 70 unelected seats reserved for women and minorities, which are typically allocated based on a party’s performance in the general election.