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Stuck between Afghanistan, where an American-led war has been waged for 17 years, and its historical rival, India, Pakistan is still threatened with a conflagration. It served as both an essential base for US forces fighting in Afghanistan and a powerful obstacle to these same troops, secretly providing aid and refuge to militant groups, including the Taliban and Al Qaeda [19659002]. But Pakistan's problems are not limited to regional security; they are also about his ability to provide opportunities for his own people, including a growing class of educated young Pakistanis. Despite its size and potential, the country's economy is lagging behind and it faces persistent problems of corruption and environmental stress
Tensions with the United States and other Western countries have intensified. the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups – Pakistan has increasingly turned to China for help and support. But this pivot has come with its own problems, including concerns over the growing amount of debt that Pakistan is accumulating with China
Who Is Running?
There are 122 parties presenting election candidates. They all promise jobs, social services and housing plans. But the main theme of the election has become the confrontation between the army and the ruling party, the Muslim League of Pakistan-Nawaz, or P.M.L.-N. The party accuses the army of intimidating some of its ruling figures so that they turn to other blocks and unfairly support a rival candidate, Imran Khan.
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Shakil Adil / The Associated Press
Imran Khan
M. Khan, 65, is a former international cricket star who has promised an alternative to the solidly rooted corruption and political dynasties that voters associate with other major parties. His rivals attribute his surge in the polls to a hit-and-run market with the military, which they claimed had worked to undermine the election. Mr. Khan denied this accusation, calling into question the accusations of interference in sour grapes
. Khan, whose success on the cricket ground made him a last name, held a seat in the National Assembly for five years, but never headed a government. A large number of independent candidates should join his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, where he wins.
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Shehbaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif, a prime minister on three occasions, was ousted last year by the country's Supreme Court. He has been found guilty of corruption and is now in jail after returning from London this month to be arrested. Sharif said the court decisions were made under pressure from the military, who opposed his attempts as prime minister to reaffirm control of the country's foreign and defense policy.
But his family remains politically powerful. His younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, 66, is the current president of the NLP. and hope to lead the country. Until recently, he was the chief minister of the Punjab, the most populous and prosperous of the four provinces of the country and the largest source of support for the party
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
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Akhtar Soomro / Reuters
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, 29, is the heir of one of Pakistan's most illustrious and famous dynasties. He is the son and grandson of two former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated, and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was executed. His father, ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, is seen as exercising real power within the Pakistan People's Left Party
The young Mr. Zardari should not win, but he could play the role of if neither Mr. Khan nor Mr. Sharif receives enough votes to form a government
Will E xtremists A ffect the O result?
Pakistan was recently added to the "gray list" of the Financial Action Group of states that support terrorism, increasing pressure on the country to crack down on extremist groups. At about the same time, however, the country's electoral commission opened the door for other candidates with extremist links to run for office.
Among the parties seeking seats on Wednesday is Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek, the reconstituted version of a party that officials had already banned, and Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan, which supports the controversial blasphemy laws of country.
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