Pakistan’s Turmoil

Since its birth in 1947, Pakistan has lived in constant turmoil. Conceived as a democracy, it has been ruled by the military for almost half its life. Engaged in off-and-on talks with its traditional foe India, its leaders have deep suspicions of the fellow nuclear power next door that continue to drive national priorities. Even as it allows notorious Islamic militants to operate on its soil, the world’s sixth-most populous nation has developed an emerging middle class as well as an increasingly independent judiciary and news media. It is both a fragile state and a modernizing society.

The party of Imran Khan, the cricket star turned anti-graft crusader, dominated elections July 25. Assuming the Movement for Justice succeeds in forming a coalition government, Khan will inherit from the ousted conservative party of Nawaz Sharif an economy in crisis. It would be only the second time in the country’s 71 years that a civilian administration passed on power. Khan is popular with younger voters but has been accused by analysts and politicians of being a tool for the military’s aim to get a pliant leader into power, an assertion he’s denied. He has also courted controversy by appealing to the religious right. Nawaz Sharif was ousted as prime minister for the third time in his career in 2017, this time over corruption allegations stemming from the Panama Papers which were investigated by a team that included members from military bodies. Sharif was jailed weeks before the election after being handed a 10-year sentence. He is appealing against his conviction. Sharif was previously deposed by a military coup in 1999 and there is great mistrust between his family and the military establishment. The armed forces have entrenched positions in the economy through land ownership and shareholdings in large corporations, along with an oversized sway on foreign policy. The generals bristled at Sharif’s efforts to improve relations with India and Afghanistan. U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on Pakistan with warnings to stop harboring terrorists or risk losing funding. The nation faces increasing financial stress: It has devalued its currency four times since December to address widening trade and current account deficits and may need a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.