ISAS Briefs

The Pakistani electorate has given Mian Nawaz Sharif a commanding lead in the newly-elected National Assembly and a clear majority in the Punjab provincial assembly. In South Asian politics, incumbency is rarely rewarded. The fact that the Pakistan People's Party suffered a humiliating defeat is in keeping with this trend. The party was punished for its poor economic performance and even more for its very poor governance. Under its care, Pakistan not only saw the economy move into a long-term growth recession. It also led to Pakistan being labelled as one of the most corrupt countries on earth.