Nawaz Sharif will hold the edge in Pakistan polls

Significance

Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PML(N) party and a three-time former prime minister, appears to have the backing of the politically powerful military-security establishment for another stint as premier. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former premier Imran Khan, cannot contest under its electoral symbol.

Impacts

• Electoral dominance in Punjab province may prove key to forming the federal government.
• Financial support from friendly countries as well as multilateral lenders will be needed to shore up the economy.
• Chinese economic interests in Pakistan will be at heightened risk of attack by ethnic Baloch insurgents.