Former finance minister Atif Mian lamented Pakistan’s economic and political instability as election results have yet to materialise into a new government.

“Pakistan’s economy has consistently fallen behind globally — last year was one of the worse, with the economy actually contracting,” he said in a post on X.

He expressed worry over reduced investments from established firms, and a growing desire for Pakistanis to leave the country.

Acknowledging people’s anger, he noted that “every action to rig the elections was taken,” adding that “the distance between the ruler and the ruled has never been wider.”

He also noted that while close to half a million children in Pakistan are dying of poverty each year, the “establishment was busy playing its usual games.”