olitics in Pakistan has undergone a paradigm shift. In the wake of recent elections, new realities of the political landscape are evident. Despite being subject to oppressive tactics including large-scale registration of criminal cases, raids, arrests, imprisonments and forced back-out from election campaign, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has become the single largest party in the parliament, compelling the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party to enter into an alliance to form the federal government.

This is the third consecutive election in which the PTI has attracted a large number of young voters. Its slogan of “change” which became a symbol of hope, became an emblem of resistance against status quo powers following the May 9 events.

The “angry young man” has shown his displeasure and discontentment, and given an opportunity, appears willing to show it again. The controversy related to the reporting of results of the February 8 elections has caused a new wave of political unrest. With the PTI calling for street protests, young angry men have an increasingly frontline role in Pakistani politics.

It is important to analyse the main reasons for the disillusionment with the existing political arrangements. More than 65 percent of the population is currently under 35 years of age. Most of the issues important to them fall in three main areas: the economic meltdown caused by unprecedented inflation and a stagnant economy resulting in widespread unemployment, poverty and the lack of confidence in a turnaround; the absence of rule of law exhibited in the form of defiant social behaviours, discriminatory policing practices and a perpetual sense of alienation between the state and the individual; and, denial of political empowerment demonstrated through rigging of elections and violation of constitutional rights by state agencies.

The national economy is in a shambles. It is not expected to be self-sustaining in the coming years. It failed to meet its growth targets for the fiscal year 2022-23 and has not shown a remarkable shift during the current fiscal year. The incidence of poverty has gone up from less than 35 percent to more than 40 percent. More than 12 million Pakistani households now live below the poverty line, defined as an income of $3.65 per day. Pakistan has the lowest per capita income in South Asia. More than 22 million children are not going to schools. In five to ten years, it will have an illiterate population of more than 75-100 million people. In a world increasingly defined by artificial intelligence and modern technological skills, Pakistan’s economic indicators are destined to remain frustrating. The youth are exasperated with empty political slogans. The economy needs a grand overhaul the status quo powers are believed to be incapable of.

The second factor informing the angry mindset is the absence of the rule of law and indiscriminate governance. The state institutions are seen as having a fickle attitude towards crime and criminals. The law enforcement agencies are alleged to discriminate against activists from certain political parties and movements. Public trust in the state narratives is ebbing. Charges of corruption brought against government leaders over the past ten years have been withdrawn. The PML-N supporters saw a conspiracy hatched by the establishment in the removal of Nawaz Sharif from power in 2017. The PTI supporters see a similar plot in the removal of Imran Khan from power in 2022. Now that cases against Nawaz Sharif have been decided in his favour or withdrawn, the cases filed against Imran Khan are seen by many as a farce.

To the angry young man, the developments since the 2022 ouster of Imran Khan are a continuation of what has been happening in the country since independence. The traditional political class and the establishment have to deal with the long-term impact of this disenchantment.

When two provincial assemblies were dissolved, the Election Commission of Pakistan refused to hold elections within 90 days as required by the constitution. Caretaker governments ruled the country without a constitutional mandate. When elections were announced, partiality of the caretaker governments became obvious.

The angry youth saw this all and on February 8 many of them voted believing that their vote would be decisive. The reported violations of rules and the controversy surrounding the election results in many constituencies played havoc with the idea of young people having a say in the conduct of the business of the state. Many of the angry young people concluded then that their political choices meant nothing. This put them at odds with the state institutions.

The shift in Pakistan’s political landscape, marked by the rise of the PTI and the increasing engagement of the youth in the political process, heralds a pivotal moment in the country’s democratic journey. The active participation of the youth in politics could invigorate democratic institutions, foster greater accountability and lead to more responsive governance. The profound disillusionment with the status quo underscores the urgent need for substantive reforms to address the underlying issues of economic stagnation, unemployment and social inequality. The angry young man needs to be understood. The rules of the game must be re-written, keeping in view the larger stake of the angry young man.

The writer is a professor of government at Houston Community College, US. He can be reached at suklashari@gmail.com