The Elections, 2024 in Pakistan saw the PTI-backed independents win 93 seats in parliament, making it the single largest Party, with the largest vote count, as well as seats won in the national assembly.
Headed by the charismatic cricketer-turned politician, Imran Khan, the PTI rode a wave of popularity on a platform promising strict action against corruption.
It emerged as a conservative party, keen to remain neutral and non-aligned as far as foreign policy is concerned, while also taking a tough stance against terrorism and lawlessness.
Like the MQM, the PTI seems to have its power base in Europe, rather than in the US, owing to Imran Khan's links with England, including his marriage to the Jewish heiress, Jemima Goldsmith.
The PML (N) trailed in second place with a seat tally of 75, emerging as the second largest party according to aggregate numbers of votes cast, behind the PTI-backed independents.
With Nawaz Sharif serving a second stint of exile in the UK, the party was faced with a leadership crisis once Nawaz Sharif was removed as its leader, while still being a sitting prime minister.
Favoring trade and revitalization of relations with India, the PML(N) touts itself as a progressive party that resonates with the business community, and whose policies reflect a desire to serve these business interests at home and abroad.
In third place, with 54 seats, came the PPP, which has historically been recognized as a center-left party, pushing an agenda of socialism and policies that resonate with the working classes.
Dogged by allegations of corruption and set back by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, it's former chairperson, the PPP last came to power by ending General Pervez Musharraf's rule.
The MQM has emerged as the country's 4th largest party with 17 seats won by direct vote.
It draws its power base from the UK and can be classified a regional party since it has a stranglehold over the economic hub and metropolis of Karachi.
It's politics exclusively serves the Mohajirs - those who migrated from India to Pakistan when the two countries gained independence from the British in 1947.
In fifth place lies the Jamiat Ulema e Islam (JUI --F), headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, with deep links to Afghanistan and the Middle East.
While additional seats have been allotted to other parties for women and minorities, the PTI was not allocated these seats in parliament, thereby restricting their numbers, while simultaneously increasing the size of the alliance pitted against them.
It's unprecedented for the single largest Party in Parliament to sit on the sidelines and to be fragmented and treated as if it were not a political entity, while the government is formed by fringe parties.
Its leader, Imran Khan remains incarcerated in prison, promising treason cases against all those who acted unconstitutionally.
Since the PTI has managed massive inroads amongst the electorate and continues to exist as a political party, the future is beset with instability and uncertainty, especially since the party could not be splintered.
Therefore, the assassination attempt against Imran Khan, as well as the vilification drive aiming to scandalize his wife, Bushra Bibi takes on ominous dimensions.
It must be noted that Bushra Bibi enjoys great respect among Sufi circles, being a practising Sufi, with a large following, in a nation where Sufis have traditionally held the balance of power.
Though she has opted to remain silent and subdued in the background while cases have piled on against her, and while her character has been maligned and scandalized in public, she is more than capable of rallying the popular sentiment behind her once she goes on the offensive and starts presenting her defense.
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