Army also on front along with three parties in Pakistan elections

In Pakistan, all the political parties have given their full strength for the general elections to be held after two days i.e. on 8th February. The main contest is between former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), jailed Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). But the fourth character cannot be ignored and that is the Pakistani Army, which plays a special role in the politics of Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif:

Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, known as the Lion of Punjab, is expected to reach majority alone. If this happens, Nawaz will become Prime Minister for the fourth time. However, till now he has never completed his term. Whether in power or in opposition, he has been in jail or exile for years in many corruption cases. 74-year-old Sharif is counted among the richest people in the country. He is in favor of economic liberalization and is keen to improve relations with India. Brother and former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is also continuously holding rallies in his favor.

Imran Khan:

Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan is not expected to take part in the elections. He is facing different punishments for corruption, treason and illegal marriage. He has been disqualified from politics for a decade. Their party's election symbol was also snatched away, hence most of the candidates are contesting as independent candidates. However, his party PTI is confident of a big victory.

Bilaval Bhutto:

At one time the Bhutto-Zardari family was the focal point of Pakistan's politics. Bilawal's maternal grandfather Zulfikar, the elder son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was Prime Minister and his father Asif Ali Zardari was President. 35-year-old Bilawal's PPP is not expected to reach power alone, but there is some hope from the party's hold in southern Sindh province.

New party Pakistan Markazi Muslim League is also taking part in this election. This party is associated with the banned organizations of Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed. According to a report, most of its candidates are either relatives of Hafiz Saeed or have been associated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa or Milli Muslim League.

In the 76-year history of Pakistan, the army has ruled the country for almost half the time. Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf have a deep impact on the country's politics. Apart from this, in other governments also the foreign and defense policy is decided by the army. Political parties and their leaders have been rising and falling with the support of the army. However, the army has been directly denying interference in the elections.

For the first time in Pakistan, a Hindu woman has also contested the elections. Saveera Prakash, who is contesting on PPP ticket from Buner seat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is a doctor by profession and is currently the general secretary of PPP women's wing. She often advocates women's rights.