Amid political turmoil and an ongoing economic crisis, Pakistan dissolved its parliament late last evening on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, setting the stage for a general election.
The dissolution has paved the way for a caretaker government to oversee elections in which former prime minister Imran Khan will be unable to participate.
Khan was jailed over the weekend after being convicted of corruption in one of the several cases filed against him since his removal from office in April 2022.
The Pakistani president has given the outgoing government three days to appoint a new interim prime minister and 90 days to hold general elections. However, the outgoing government has warned that the elections may be delayed until next year.
According to reports, the Pakistani government is considering postponing the elections, as it struggles to stymie security and political challenges that threaten to destabilise an already cash-strapped country.
The instability in Pakistan has also put the United States on alert.
“We’re obviously concerned about any actions — particularly violent actions — that can contribute to instability in Pakistan or, frankly, any other country with whom we share a set of common interests when it comes to counterterrorism,” said White House official John Kirby said, as quoted by a news agency.