Pakistan’s Election Stunner - and the Dangers Ahead

Pakistan’s Election Stunner – and the Dangers Ahead

WAHGRIAN, PAKISTAN – FEBRUARY 08: Pakistan voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station ahead of the start of voting in Pakistan’s general election on February 08, 2024 in Wahgrian, Pakistan. Pakistan’s general elections are of importance not only for the country’s internal stability but also for its geo-political significance. The elections have direct implications for Pakistan’s global credibility, particularly in strategic and economic relationships, making it a focal point of international attention and concern as tensions remain high both within the country and in the region. (Photo by Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)

Posted: February 13th, 2024

By Tom Nagorski

Tom Nagorski is the Managing Editor for The Cipher Brief. He previously served as Global Editor for Grid and served as ABC News Managing Editor for International Coverage as well as Senior Broadcast Producer for World News Tonight.

SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – It was a stunning result that few saw coming: a clear victory at the polls for Pakistan’s jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, despite an aggressive campaign by the country’s military to discredit Khan, weaken his party, and – according to many observers – rig the vote.

It’s also a moment of high anxiety and potential danger for a Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation that was already home to rising extremism and an economic crisis.

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