The Election Commission of Pakistan listed on its website 171 registered political parties and one alliance of five parties.116 In practice, however, political competition remained dominated by a limited number of major actors,117 notably the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).118 Smaller parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (Pakistan) (JUI-P) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) continued to hold limited representation at national level.119
Ethnic identity continued to play a significant role in Pakistan’s political landscape120 with several parties drawing support from particular ethnic or regional constituencies, resulting in geographically concentrated patterns of political support.121 The PML-N remained strongest in Punjab,122 while the PPP maintained its dominant position in Sindh,123 particularly in rural areas of the province.124
The legal framework governing political parties is primarily set out in the Elections Act 2017, which regulates, inter alia, registration with the Election Commission, financial reporting requirements, and the conduct of intra-party elections.125 During the reporting period, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) was banned under anti-terrorism legislation following violent protests in October 2025.126 In December 2025, the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution to ban PTI and its founder, former prime minister Imran Khan, without explicitly mentioning either by name.127
- 116
Pakistan, ECP, List of All Political Parties, n.d., url
- 117
Pakistan, National Assembly, Members (263), n.d., url
- 118
International Crisis Group, Disputed Polls and Political Furies: Handling Pakistan’s Deadlock, 28 November 2024, url; Usman, S., The Political Parties of Pakistan: A Lack of Ideology, Paradigm Shift, 18 March 2025, url
- 119
Pakistan, National Assembly, Members (263), n.d., url
- 120
Ahmed, M. S., Politicization of Ethnic Identities in Pakistan: Implications for National Unity and Cohesion, 1 December 2025, url, p. 159
- 121
Shah, S. N. A., The Rise of Ethnic Nationalism and Its Implications for Pakistan’s Multi-Ethnic Future, June 2025, url, p. 50
- 122
Aaj News, PML-N strengthens grip in Punjab with six-seat gain in by-elections, 24 November 2025, url; Pakistan Today, PML-N takes clear lead as by-polls held in 13 NA and PA constituencies amid rigging allegations, 24 November 2025, url
- 123
Express Tribune (The), PPP enjoyed supremacy amid weak opposition, 3 January 2025, url
- 124
Mangi, S.N. et al., Predicting partisanship and voting behaviour: Ethno-political polarization in Sindh, Pakistan, 4 December 2024, url, p. 1
- 125
FAFEN, Explainer: Legality of Ban on Political Parties, 29 October 2025, url
- 126
Dawn, Federal govt approves ban on TLP under anti-terrorism act, 23 October 2025, url
- 127
Dawn, Punjab Assembly adopts resolution to ban PTI, Imran for being ‘anti-state’, 9 December 2025, url