Pakistan Elections 2024: Quick Look At 5 Key Players — In Pics

Three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a leading contender for leadership in Pakistan. The 74-year-old chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party returned last year from a four-year exile in the UK and is seeking a fourth term as PM to address economic challenges despite past corruption convictions.

Maryam Nawaz, 50, daughter of Nawaz Sharif holds a significant place in her father's PML-N party as his successor. She has led and emerged as the primary speaker at party events despite lacking office experience.

Shehbaz Sharif, 72, former Punjab Chief Minister, led a coalition government after Imran Khan's 2022 ouster and will play a key role if his party wins and forms the government.

Imran Khan, 71, former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, has spent the entire election period in a jail cell. He ran a social-media-based campaign and remains a popular choice among voters as per analysts.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has been running prominent campaigns on youth issues and climate change. His Pakistan People's Party could play king-maker due to parliamentary seat distribution.