ISLAMABAD - After nearly two years of political turmoil, Pakistan is set to hold elections for its national and provincial assemblies on 8 February. The upcoming elections will see an embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) challenge the traditionally dominant parties of Pakistani politics — the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Within the prevailing political and security situation, effective participation by political parties and citizens in the electoral process remains questionable. Campaigning activities have been restrained in the run-up to the elections while the crackdown against the PTI has continued unabated.

Just over a week before polling day, former Prime Minister Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023, was sentenced to 10 and 14 years’ imprisonment on separate charges of leaking state secrets and corruption, respectively. Frustration among PTI voters, as well as safety concerns in areas engulfed in militant activity, may depress voter turnout at the polls. At the same time, any sign of internal turmoil could see the military use national security as a pretext to strengthen its grip on power.