Part 3/17:

The election was perceived as a showdown between the incumbent government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and PTI, led by Imran Khan. Leading up to February 8, political uncertainty prevailed amid fears of military interference and questions of electoral fairness. Imran Khan’s ousting through a vote of no confidence had already shattered the stability of his tenure, which was marked by bold reforms and populist appeals. His subsequent political resilience and mass support persisted despite legal challenges, physical assaults, and his arrest on corruption charges.