Pakistan politics in 2024: A year of uncertainty, decisions, challenges

As 2024 ends, here's a recap of key events that shaped Pakistan's political landscape.

As 2024 comes to a close, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture, grappling with a divided political landscape, economic challenges, and escalating security risks.

The year has been marked by ongoing protests, judicial involvement, and terrorist incidents, all creating an air of uncertainty.

As 2024 comes to an end, let's reflect on the key events that have defined the nation's political landscape this year.

Tensions with western neighbours

Tensions between Pakistan and Iran soared on January 17 following a missile attack launched by Iran in Balochistan, which it claimed targeted terrorist sites. However, the strike, which hit Pakistani soil, was swiftly condemned by Islamabad as an "unprovoked violation" of its airspace.

In a strong diplomatic response, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Iran the following day, signaling its deep dissatisfaction with Tehran’s actions. The Pakistani government strongly condemned the violation of its sovereignty and demanded accountability for the civilian casualties caused by the missile strike.

The situation escalated further when Pakistan's Air Force carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Baloch separatist targets within Iran on January 18.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached new heights in December 2024, with a series of alleged cross-border attacks and retaliatory military strikes. Pakistan has been grappling with rising security concerns as militant groups launch attacks from Afghan territory, particularly targeting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

In response, Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its concerns to Kabul over the use of Afghan soil by militants for cross-border terrorism. The situation escalated on December 24 when Pakistani fighter jets targeted alleged Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. These strikes followed a deadly attack on a checkpoint in South Waziristan, which claimed the lives of 16 Pakistani soldiers

Elections and aftermath

The February 8 general elections, which were hailed as the largest in Pakistan’s history, were marred by delays in results and security concerns. The day also saw widespread internet shutdowns, further escalating public frustration. The delay in final election results and allegations of rigging triggered widespread protests across the country.

Despite securing the most seats in the elections, PTI’s lack of official party status complicated the formation of a new government. In the absence of a clear majority, the PML-N, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and other allied parties announce that it would form a coalition government.

On March 3, 2024, Shehbaz Sharif was re-elected as Pakistan's Prime Minister for a second term, defeating his rival PTI’s Omar Ayub. Despite Imran Khan's PTI winning the most seats, they failed to secure a majority, with Sharif's PML-N party coming in second.

In the National Assembly, Sharif secured 201 votes, well above the required 169, while Ayub garnered only 92 votes.

In a major judicial development of 2024, Supreme Court on March 6 ruled that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the country’s former prime minister, did not receive a fair trial before his execution 44 years ago.

Then CJP Qazi Faez Isa observed that the trial failed to meet due process and fair trial standards in his response to a presidential reference filed by Asif Ali Zardari in 2011.

Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), was executed on April 4, 1979, after being convicted of orchestrating the murder of a political opponent.

On March 9, Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, won a second term as Pakistan's president after receiving support from the ruling coalition in a vote by parliament and regional assemblies.

Then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, administering the oath of office of the President of Pakistan to Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad, on March 10, 2024. PHOTO: PID

Zardari secured 411 votes, while his opponent, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, backed by the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, received 181 votes.

Senate elections

The senate elections were held on April 2 and the ruling coalition candidates swept the polls with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) taking the lead with 11 seats, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in second with six seats.

The Muttahida Qaudmi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and an independent candidate Faisal Vawda secured one seat each.

The polling for the 19 vacant seats was held in the National, Punjab, and Sindh assemblies while elections on 11 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's seats were postponed by the Election Commission over the "denial" of oath-taking to the lawmakers elected on reserved seats.

Overall 356 lawmakers cast their votes in the upper house of parliament's elections, whereas, the votes of five NA lawmakers were rejected.

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian’s (PPPP) Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Syedal Khan Nasir were elected unopposed as the chairman and deputy chairman of the Senate, respectively after boycott from the PTI.

PTI's legal wrangling

The year began with political uncertainty, largely centered around the upcoming general elections.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, faced a tough start after the Supreme Court ruled on January 13 that the party’s intra-party elections were illegal, which led to PTI losing its iconic election symbol, the "bat."

As a result, PTI candidates ran as independents in the February 8 elections, a blow to the party’s election strategy.

Supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan hold a giant cricket bat with the colours and initials of the party. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

Ahead of the elections, the Imran Khan-founded party had received a political setback in the very first month of the year when a trial court convicted the former prime minister and his close ally, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in the cipher case on January 30. Both were sentenced to 10 years in prison — just days before polls.

The very next day, a separate trial court found Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, guilty in the Toshakhana case and sentenced them to 14 years in prison.

These convictions not only tarnished Khan's reputation but also rendered him ineligible to contest the upcoming elections, a move that provided a significant advantage to his political rivals, notably the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies.

The setbacks continued for the former first family ahead of the polls. On February 3, Khan and Bushra were convicted in the "illegal marriage" case, also known as the un-Islamic nikah or iddat case, and sentenced to seven years in prison.

A major judicial development occurred in July when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of PTI’s eligibility for reserved seats for women and minorities in the National and Provincial Assemblies.

The decision was a significant blow to the ruling coalition, but its implementation remained pending by the end of the year.

On 3 June 2024, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned the convictions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case. IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb delivered the verdict after reviewing the appeals challenging their convictions.

On 13 July 2024, a court in Islamabad overturned Imran Khan's conviction regarding his marriage to Bushra Bibi, ruling that the marriage was not invalid.

However, just hours after their acquittal in the iddat case, Khan and his wife were re-arrested in a new Toshakhana case filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

In another key ruling, the Supreme Court upheld a controversial decision regarding amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), limiting its scope and empowering the ruling PML-N-led coalition.

Spymaster's arrest

On August 12, Faiz Hameed, former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was arrested over allegations of abuse of power related to a raid on a private property business during his tenure. The army took him into custody and began proceedings for a Field General Court Martial.

On December 10, Hameed was formally charged under the Pakistan Army Act for land grabbing, seizing valuables from a private housing society, and interfering in political matters. This was the first time an ex-ISI chief has faced charges for political meddling.

Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed. PHOTO: FILE

The Supreme Court on September 6 delivered a landmark ruling in favor of the incumbent government, overturning a previous decision on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments.

The ruling nullified a 2023 verdict, in which a bench led by then-Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial had struck down certain changes to the NAB Ordinance.

Terror attacks

In 2024, Pakistan grappled with escalating terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militant activity surged throughout the year. In August, Balochistan was rocked by a series of deadly assaults, claiming over 50 lives, including civilians, police, and military personnel.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred on August 26 in Musakhel district, where armed men killed 23 passengers after offloading them from buses and trucks. The attackers also set 10 vehicles on fire.

October 6 saw another dastardly attack, but the location was in Karachi. A suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in at the Jinnah International Airport, killing three, including two foreigners, and injuring 16, including another Chinese national. This attack occurred just a week before the SCO summit in Islamabad.

Karachi airport attack: Reuters

It was a major but the only incident involving Chinese nationals.

Later, in November, a suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station claimed 27 lives and injured 62 others, further highlighting the region’s vulnerability to militant violence.

A recent Ministry of Interior report highlighted 1,566 terrorist incidents in the first 10 months of the year, claiming 924 lives. Of these, 583 deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an area frequently targeted by militants.

Political showdown over 26th constitutional amendment

In October 2024, Pakistan witnessed intense political maneuvering as the government and opposition vied for support to pass the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment. The amendment, which required a two-thirds majority in parliament, introduced significant changes to the judicial system, including empowering parliament to select the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from among the three most senior judges, and curbing the CJP's suo motu powers.

After weeks of negotiations, the ruling coalition of PML-N, PPP, and JUI-F secured the necessary backing and passed the bill on October 20.

On October 26, Justice Yahya Afridi was appointed as the 30th CJP for a three-year term, marking the first time in Pakistan's history that the CJP was selected by a parliamentary committee.

Diplomatic milestone

Despite internal challenges, Pakistan also successfully hosted the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in October 2024. The event was attended by key regional leaders, including India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, marking a significant diplomatic moment for Pakistan amidst its political and security challenges.

The summit was held under strict security measures, showcasing Pakistan's commitment to its regional diplomatic efforts.

Smog crisis

On November 15, 2024, a health emergency was declared in Punjab due to the worsening smog conditions that have severely impacted air quality in the region.

The dense smog, which has blanketed major cities, prompted authorities to impose lockdowns in Lahore and Multan in an effort to curb the spread of health risks.

Kurram massacre

Deadly tribal clashes, fueled by decades-old land disputes, erupted last month following an attack on a convoy that killed 52 passengers. Since then, at least 130 lives have been lost in the violence. Residents in Kurram have reported severe shortages of food and medicine, with many children dying due to these shortages.

To aid the situation, the KP government launched a helicopter service, evacuating 613 individuals from the district.

The religio-political party Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) called for nationwide protests in solidarity with the people of Parachinar and staged a sit-in since December 20 to highlight the deteriorating law and order situation and road blockages.

In Karachi, multiple sit-ins, organised by MWM, caused major traffic disruptions across the city. Several key roads were blocked, leading to traffic chaos in all seven districts and creating hardship for commuters.

PTI, govt break ice

In an effort to ease political tensions, the PML-N-led ruling coalition and PTI engaged in this year's first round of talks in December, aiming to break the deadlock that has plagued the nation’s political landscape.

During the inaugural session at Parliament House, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, PTI leaders presented their demands to the ruling coalition. The meeting set the stage for future discussions, with the next round scheduled for January 2.

Photo: X

The PTI delegation, led by former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, included Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.

Protests

The political landscape was marked by intense protests throughout the year. PTI, along with opposition parties like Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and others, organised mass demonstrations, challenging the election results and demanding the repeal of constitutional amendments, restoration of democracy, and the release of "innocent political prisoners."

One of the most significant early protests took place on February 24, when the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) orchestrated a massive demonstration in Karachi, joined by the PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). This protest, which coincided with the swearing-in ceremony of members of the Sindh Assembly, quickly escalated into violence.

PTI, others parties hold protest against election rigging — Reuters

Tensions flared between protesters and law enforcement, culminating in clashes and the imposition of Section 144, which prohibits large gatherings. The unrest led to the arrest of several demonstrators before the protest was eventually called off.

However, the PTI continued to maintain a robust presence in the streets, staging a series of independent protests throughout the year. The first major rally took place on March 2 in Karachi, followed by another significant demonstration in Lahore on March 10, and a third in Rawalpindi on April 26.

Throughout the year, protests intensified, particularly in the months of March, April, and from September to November. Clashes between police and protesters were frequent, with several incidents of violence, arrests, and property damage.

September 28: PTI’s protest took place in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh, but as protests escalated, routes connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad were shut off with containers.

Violent clashes between police and protesters continued throughout the day, with the police using tear gas and shelling. The protest was eventually called off when Ali Amin Gandapur announced that the protesters would return to Peshawar.

October 4: PTI called for another protest, targeting constitutional amendments. Once again, Islamabad’s key internal and external roads were blocked by containers.

Security force personnel fire tear gas shells to prevent an anti-government rally by supporters of Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad. PHOTO: REUTERS

The protest, led by Ali Amin Gandapur, continued even as Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was visiting Pakistan. The protest caused damage amounting to approximately 24 crore rupees. Islamabad police reported one officer killed and 31 injured during the clashes.

October 15: PTI had initially planned a protest in Islamabad as the country prepared to host the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

However, the protest call was later withdrawn. Despite this, authorities took extreme precautions, including the deployment of the military, suspension of internet services in some cities, and the closure of key routes into the city.

- Reuters/file

From October 14 to 17, the Pakistan Army took control of security, and public transport, including metro services, was halted.

November 24-27: Islamabad faced a partial shutdown due to PTI's long march led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

Bushra Bibi, wife of Imran Khan, and supporters of Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attend a rally demanding his release in Islamabad on November 26, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

The capital remained partially shut for almost four days, with the Islamabad police spending over Rs 330mn managing the situation.

Internet shutdown and economic impact

In 2024, Pakistan experienced significant disruptions in internet and mobile services, particularly on Election Day and during key political protests, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) call for a demonstration in Islamabad. Services like X (formerly Twitter) were suspended, and internet speeds have remained slow throughout the year, attributed to the installation of firewalls by the Shehbaz government.

The IT sector has faced severe economic impacts due to these disruptions. The industry claims that just one hour of internet outage costs over one million dollars, affecting businesses, including export sectors. According to NetBlocks’ Cost of Shutdown Tool, a complete internet outage for an hour could result in a loss of $2.21 million for Pakistan.

Pakistan's internet freedom has taken a hit, with the country scoring only 27 out of 100, according to freedomhouse.org. This places Pakistan far behind its regional competitors like India (50), Bangladesh (61), and the Philippines (61). The increasing restrictions on access to social media platforms and messaging services have exacerbated the situation, with citizens turning to VPNs in large numbers to bypass these government-imposed restrictions.

The government also announced a crackdown on "illegal" VPNs, claiming that only registered VPNs will be allowed due to "security concerns," further complicating access for many users.

The ongoing suspension of internet services and mobile networks has far-reaching consequences, especially for Pakistan’s digital economy. With internet disruptions costing millions, and widespread public frustration, the government's approach to internet censorship and control continues to raise concerns over Pakistan's digital future. As 2024 ends, the country's internet freedom remains one of the most pressing issues heading into 2025.

As the nation continues to face significant turbulence across its sociopolitical, economic, and security spheres, the challenges of 2024 are expected to reverberate into 2025.

However, with hope on the horizon, there is a collective desire for the coming year to usher in a period of political stability, growth, and positive change for its citizens.