Religious parties likely to fill 'political vacuum' in the upcoming elections in Pakistan
Religio-political parties are expected to fill a 'political vacuum,' stemming from a crackdown on former premier Imran Khan’s party, and perform better in the upcoming general election scheduled for February 8, political analysts said this week.
Imran Khan, ousted from power via a parliamentary no-confidence vote, faced a brief arrest on May 9, 2023, in connection with a graft case. His detention triggered widespread violent protests nationwide, with his supporters launching attacks on government and military facilities and causing damage to public property. Consequently, there was a crackdown on Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, resulting in senior figures defecting, getting arrested, or going underground.
While being incarcerated since August following conviction in another graft case, the former premier alleges collusion between Pakistan's influential military and the interim government with established dynastic parties to suppress his movement and bar him from seeking office. Both the government and the military have denied these allegations.
The imprisonment of Khan and the disintegration of his party have created a void in Pakistan's political landscape, prompting analysts to anticipate the potential ascension of religious parties to fill this gap.
Despite numbering around 23 out of a total of 175 registered political parties in Pakistan, religious parties have historically held weaker positions in elections compared to mainstream political groups. However, the current scenario of political upheaval and void might pave the way for these religious entities to garner increased support and prominence in the forthcoming elections.
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