Pakistan has announced it will hold general elections May 11, to replace the first government to serve its full five-year term in Pakistani history.
A caretaker government is expected to be chosen to steer the country until that time.
The incoming government will face an energy crisis, economic problems, corruption, and deteriorating security conditions.
Until now, democratically-elected governments in Pakistan have not served their full terms because they were either dislodged by military coups or dismissed by pro-army presidents on charges of misrule or corruption.