As Pakistan gears up for elections, candidates like Aamir Mughal wield unusual symbols, like eggplants or "baingan," assigned to them by the Election Commission.

Eggplants, lions and hookahs: How Pakistan's polls became the stage for comic electoral symbols

Pakistan is heading to polls on Thursday (Feb 8) in the throes of an economic downturn. The South Asian nation is grappling with formidable challenges including crippling inflation, a persistently weakening currency, and critically low foreign reserves.

Data lab | Pak economy has been in the red for decades. Can Nawaz Sharif engineer a turnaround?

Just a week ahead of the country's general elections, Islamabad is struggling to contain violence in its restive northwestern region. Pakistan's security says it has killed 21 terrorists in Balochistan's Mach and Kolpur areas in operations conducted after the militant attacks.

Political unrest grows in Pakistan ahead of general elections