ISAS Insights

Elections are expected to be held in Pakistan towards the end of 2007 or early 2008. The current assemblies were elected in 2002. The principle is that the Election Commission should be given three months to organise the elections, which means that after October when the term of the current assemblies is completed new elections can be called anytime between November and January. The Pakistani electoral system is based on the first-past-the-post procedure as prevalent in Britain and India. Several parties take part in elections but the practice of elections and civilian governments is weakly developed in Pakistan. Therefore, it is not certain that elections will be held.