PAKISTAN The political return of Nawaz Sharif

The May 11 elections were contradictory: the results were both predictable and unpredictable. Nawaz Sharif and his Muslim League (PML-N) had been projected to win - although only around 70 seats - which might have forced them into a coalition government. Imran Khan's party, the Justice Movement (Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf, PTI) had been bandied about as a viable coalition partner, given that both parties place themselves on the conservative right. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was expected to obtain second place, followed at some distance by the PTI, which would become the third largest party. The total votes in percentages were as follows: PML-N 35%, PTI 17.8%, PPP 15.7%, MQM 5.6%, PML-Q 3.2%, JUI-F 2.9%, PML-F 2.2% and JI 1.6%.

This publication was made possible thanks to funding from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID).