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Pakistan will have a new government in place by the end of the month following a controversial election that has dramatically altered the country’s political landscape. With no political party getting a majority, it will be a coalition rule led by former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N). The party has emerged as the single largest bloc in the newly formed National Assembly after many independent members have jumped onto its bandwagon.

In what is being described as the “new old order,” Asif Ali Zardari the top leader of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) is set to return as the country’ president for the second time under a power sharing deal between the two parties. It is certainly not the outcome of the long-awaited polls one had expected. The new power arrangement cobbled together after intense negotiations backed by the all-powerful security establishment will be standing on shacky grounds.

One is not sure whether the new administration could bring any political stability to a country in deep turmoil. The elections have resulted in a divided mandate with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan emerging as the single largest group despite the widespread allegations of poll rigging. Its candidates were elected as “independents” because the party has been denied of........

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