ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan election on July 25 comes after a brief butacrimonious campaign, complicated by a string of attacks — including thesecond deadliest bombing in Pakistan s history — which have promptedsecurity fears.
The main players in the polls include former premier Nawaz Sharif whocannot even hold political office as well as the leaders of the three mainparties.——————————
*Nawaz Sharif*——————————
Sharif, dubbed the Lion of Punjab, was thrice prime minister but has nevercompleted a term, his latest ending when he was ousted by the Supreme Courtlast year and banned from politics for life over corruption.
The saga reached its peak earlier this month, when he was sentenced inabsentia to 10 years in prison. Sharif spectacularly returned to Pakistanfrom London a week later and was arrested.
Sharif claims he is being targeted. Analysts say he has returned to fightfor his political life, as his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) partystumbles in the campaign.
Seen as a combative and tenacious figure, his current dispute with otherinstitutions — with which he was once close — is largely attributed tohis desire to shift power to the civilian government, and to seek warmerdiplomatic relations with arch-rival India.——————————
*Imran Khan*——————————
A former World Cup cricket hero turned politician, Khan has become the mainopposition leader in recent years and makes no secret of his ambition tobecome prime minister.
Known mainly in the West as a talented sportsman and infamous playboy, hepresents a significantly more conservative and devout face to MuslimPakistan.
His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, founded in 1996, has governednorthwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province but long had to settle for ahandful of seats nationally.
The fall of Sharif and the PML-N s floundering campaign represents his bestchance yet at the leadership, even if an outright majority remainsuncertain.
Critics consider him unfit for office. Some call him “Taliban Khan” andattack his repeated calls for talks with violent insurgent groups. Othersopenly suspect him of links to the army.——————————
*Shahbaz Sharif*——————————
Nawaz s younger and less charismatic brother, Shahbaz became president ofthe PML-N after his elder sibling was ousted, and is theoretically leadingthe party into the vote.
He occupies a key position in politics, having spent more than 10 years aschief minister of Punjab province, which represents over half the country spopulation of 207 million.
Shahbaz, also an influential businessman, is reputedly less stubborn thanNawaz or his anointed political heir, daughter Maryam, who has also beenjailed for corruption.
There has long been speculation that the two brothers have clashed overtheir political differences, but they have never corroborated the claims.——————————
*Bilawal Bhutto Zardari*——————————
His mother Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to lead a Muslim country, wasassassinated in 2007. His grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, also a primeminister of Pakistan, was hanged in 1979.
At 29, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has little experience and the chance ofelection victory for his family s Pakistan People’s Party is deemed almostnil — though he could become kingmaker by joining forces with the PML-N orPTI, if either fail to win an outright majority.
The task would be difficult for the scion of a family who once dominatedPakistani politics but whose party is now in decline, even challenged intheir stronghold in Sindh province.
His father, Asif Ali Zardari, nicknamed “Mr 10 percent” because of numerousaccusations of corruption, has previously been president of Pakistan. Thereis speculation he could seek the post again — or demand other concessions– in any coalition deal. – APP/AFP