The military continues to control Pakistani politics as the country’s election approaches.
In the lead-up to upcoming general elections in Pakistan, the country’s Human Rights Commission has voiced significant concerns about “pre-poll rigging” and the “blatant manipulation” of the electoral process.
The Feb. 8 elections are apparently unlikely to be conducted in a fair and free manner.
Pakistan has a history of electoral engineering, with the military often playing a pivotal role as a “kingmaker.” This consistent military interference in Pakistani politics explains current fears about the integrity of the democratic process in the upcoming elections and beyond.
The military’s holdFor more than three decades in Pakistan’s 76-year history as an independent nation, the powerful military establishment has wielded significant influence.
Even during periods when the milit