Imran Khan’s party takes early lead in Pakistan polls

Bloomberg

Pakistanis voted on Wednesday in a closely fought election that will determine the course of the nuclear-armed nation central to US anti-terrorism efforts and China’s global infrastructure ambitions.
Earlier surveys showed none of the top three parties winning a majority. However, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), led by former cricket star Imran Khan, is leading on most parliament seats out of the 270 being contested in national elections, according to local television channels.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is trailing Khan’s party in nationwide polling, while Pakistan Peoples Party of former President Asif Ali Zardari is third.
Pakistan’s powerful military — which has ruled for much of the nation’s history — has faced accusations during the campaign of intimidating critics and reporters to elect a pliant government. It has denied the allegations.
The morning’s voting was marred by a bomb blast near a polling station in Quetta that killed 31 people and injured about 70, Waseem Baig, spokesman for Sandeman Provincial Hospital in Quetta said by phone. In a second attack in Balochistan, the military said a convoy on election duty was hit, killing three soldiers and one poll worker, while local media reported a grenade attack in Hyderabad and an explosion in Larkana.
The army deployed around 370,000 troops and a heavy military presence could be seen across Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and financial hub, where soldiers stood guard inside and outside polling stations.
Imran Khan, the celebrated former cricketer turned anti-corruption crusader, had the momentum heading into the election, and is seen as the military’s top choice for prime minister despite his denials. His main rival is a party helmed by former PM Nawaz Sharif, who has clashed repeatedly with the military over the years and was jailed this month on corruption charges, which he is appealing.
“For 30 years I have seen my country go backward,” said Nadir Khan, a 50-year-old IT businessman who travelled from Australia to vote for Khan’s PTI. No matter who triumphs, Pakistan’s next leader will need to grapple with the generals over control of foreign policy and national security — two areas that determine relations with the US and China.
They must also deal with a mounting economic crisis: four currency devaluations since December have made it likely the next government will need to seek another International Monetary Fund bailout.
“While the army will continue to retain control, a pliant civilian government, which it will get in Khan, will allow it to have nearly unchecked power,” said Shailesh Kumar, Asia director with political risk firm Eurasia Group. “This is consequential given that relations with India — and the world — are at all-time lows, and could be a catalyst for further bad behaviour, and in turn cause additional security challenges in the region.”
Pakistan’s army has long worried that a civilian government could make overtures to India and Afghanistan, ultimately reducing the need for a powerful military — and the largesse that comes with it.
Under President Donald Trump, the US has suspended military aid amid allegations Pakistan’s army supports proxy groups striking inside India and Afghanistan, complicating America’s longest war.
There are 270 seats parliamentary seats out of 342 up for grabs, with 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for minorities. A party or coalition needs 136 seats to form government.