Pakistan: New prime minister elected, but challenges abound

Imran Khan has joined the number of Pakistan prime ministers failing to complete their term in office, after opposition politician Shehbaz Sharif was elected as his replacement on 11 April 2022 (Reuters, 11 April 2022). World Watch Research analyst Thomas Muller comments: "Imran Khan, who came to power in 2018 and has survived earlier attempts to sideline him, did not go down without a fight, however. He tried to pre-empt an attempted "˜no confidence" vote in a surprise move on 2 April, by dissolving parliament and calling for early elections, as reported by the New York Times on 3 April 2022. While political turmoil is certainly not unknown in Pakistan"s history, Prime Minister Khan"s move was unprecedented and the Constitutional Court decided that such action was unconstitutional; hence the Court re-instated parliament and the original no-confidence motion. Given that one hundred parliament members from Imran Khan"s party resigned (triggering a hundred by-elections in two months" time), it is likely that early elections will have to be called. In such a future election, Imran Khan could win back his position if his rhetoric is believed about the USA being behind the attempts to oust him. However, he may face a tougher battle now that he has apparently lost the tacit support of the army. But even then, Imran Khan should not be seen as a politically spent force. As one long-term observer cautioned (East Asia Forum, 31 March 2022):‚ 

"˜The current political brawl will not end with the "˜no confidence" motion. The economy is so fractured that the short-term populist measures the opposition parties adopted during their terms in office cannot sustain the state structure. They have actually caused the current predicament. Being an import economy, most prices are tied to dollar appreciation. Khan was a deadlier foe in opposition than he has proved to be in the government - largely due to the inept governance and corruption within the system rather than his intent. Even most of his detractors admit that he is well-meaning. If he is toppled now, with his proven tenacity and energy, his chances of returning to power will remain high.""

Thomas Muller adds: "Christians have called for an easing of the current political tension and for a focus on bringing relief to the many citizens suffering from the rapid devaluation of the currency and the increase in the prices of daily basic necessities; they have stressed the need to keep the Constitution firmly as the central reference point (Fides, 12 April 2022). Pakistan has a long and sad history of using religion to support or counter political decisions, which frequently plays out on the backs of religious minorities, including Christians. It would be no surprise at all if history repeated itself once more, starting with the series of by-elections that have to be held."