Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, 74, seeks a fourth term to revive Pakistan's economy, overcoming past corruption charges and a lifetime ban from politics, signalling reconciliation with the military.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, 50, emerges as a key figure in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), standing as her father's political heir, despite her prior incarceration on corruption charges.
Shehbaz Sharif, 72, the younger brother of Nawaz, played a pivotal role during interim governance, with his ties to the military potentially influencing the party's trajectory if victorious.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, 71, faces legal challenges and jail time amid corruption accusations, while his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, grapples with election restrictions, yet retains public support.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, 35, scion of the Bhutto dynasty, aims to leverage his family's political heritage, focusing on youth and climate change issues, positioning his party as a potential kingmaker in coalition politics.