ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to participate in elections to choose a national government and members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies on February 8. As its common in most large democracies, the major political parties in the country include those that have held national power, others with significant regional or local influence, and smaller parties that address the challenges facing Pakistan.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), a party under the leadership of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, secured a clear majority and came to power for the third time in 2013. In 2022, Shehbaz Sharif, aged 72 and Nawaz’s younger brother and former chief minister of Punjab, assumed the office of prime minister.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP);
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father, Asif Ali Zardari, is striving to return to power for the first time since 2008. Founded by his maternal grandfather and former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the party was subsequently led by his mother, two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Competing in his second election, Bhutto Zardari previously served as the foreign minister under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rule.
Awami National Party (ANP);
The Awami National Party (ANP), a political party in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ANP was also part of the 11-party Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P)
For almost three decades, the party held significant political position in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub. Historically, the MQM-P has consistently formed alliances with the mainstream political parties in the country. Following the 2018 elections, it formed a coalition with then ruling party but later joined the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in April 2022.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI);
Under the leadership of Siraj ul Haq, Jamaat-e-Islami is a party with a manifesto centered around religion.
Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F);
Led by Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, the right-wing Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam is actively working to reclaim lost influence, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Fazal-ur-Rehman previously headed the PDM alliance.
A large number of independent candidates are also taking part in the current elections in Pakistan.
