by Asif Shahzad and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani voters go to the polls on Thursday for legislative elections in a climate marked by a wave of attacks, an economic crisis and a highly polarized political environment.
Most of the elections are expected to pit candidates supported by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently in detention, whose party won the last elections, and candidates from the party of Nawaz Sharif, who held the seats three times. functions of Prime Minister and is currently given favorite.
Analysts say no clear winner could emerge from the polls, but Pakistan’s powerful generals could play a role.
The Pakistani military has ruled directly or supervised governments throughout the country’s history. However, she has maintained for several years that she does not interfere in political affairs.
Imran Khan says military is behind crackdown to ban his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, while analysts and opponents say Nawaz Sharif enjoys support from generals .
Nawaz Sharif, who returned to his country in October after four years of self-imposed exile in London, is running for a fourth prime ministership in elections on February 8.
In 2017, the Supreme Court banned him from holding any public office or running for office. She accused him in particular of not having disclosed the income of a company belonging to his son.
If no candidate wins a clear majority in the vote, it will be difficult to address the many challenges facing Pakistan, including securing a new bailout from the International Monetary Fund, as the deal reached last year is due to expire in March.
The first results are expected a few hours after the polls close at 5:00 p.m. (12:00 GMT).
The specter of terrorist attacks hangs over the election, as two explosions occurred on Wednesday near the offices of electoral candidates in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, in the southwest of the country, killing 26 people and injuring dozens.
(Reporting Asif Shahzad and Gibran Peshimam; French version Camille Raynaud)
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