Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) took the reins of government on February 8, 2024, following a contested election that saw the popular opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) banned from contesting candidates.

Political tensions are still high, with Imran Khan, the imprisoned PTI leader and former prime minister, maintaining widespread popularity while continuing to insist his lengthy jail sentence is politically motivated.

Khan has called for fresh protests on Saturday, marking one year since the 2024 election.

Despite continued political protests carried out by PTI supporters, analysts contend that this has not been enough to move the needle, as the PML-N enjoys significant support from Pakistan's powerful military.

"A year after a marred election, the civilian coalition government, in partnership with the military, has consolidated control over the country," Madiha Afzal, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, told DW.

"Of course, it has come at quite a bit of cost — to the country's democracy, to the judiciary's independence, to people's freedom of speech and right to information — and its benefits are in question," she added.

Khan was removed from premiership in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Pakistan's parliament.

Last month,

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