Challenges Ahead: Pakistan’s Post-Election Turmoil And The Resilience Of Democracy

The 126.6 million Pakistanis voters responded forcefully to months of repression and the deliberate persecution of former prime minister Imran Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on February 8th, 2024. They did so by casting ballots against the nation’s dominant military establishment in the general elections for the 16th National Assembly. Consequently, independent candidates won 102 seats, 93 of which belonged to those affiliated with the PTI. The