Back in favour Nawaz Sharif heading towards fourth term as Pakistan PM

With days to go before Pakistan goes to the polls, the feverish buzz and boisterous rallies that usually mark campaign season have been unusually muted.

- Hannah Ellis-Petersen

"There is a sense among many people that the outcome is already predetermined," said Samina Yasmeen, a fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

The man widely expected to become prime minister after Thursday's elections has been a familiar face in Pakistani politics for almost four decades. Nawaz Sharif, the three-times former prime minister, is likely to be on the brink of a fourth term, having been brought back from exile in the UK.

For those who view Sharif as one of the few experienced politicians able to finally bring Pakistan out of its long-running economic crisis, his imminent return is being met with relief. His focus on the campaign trail has been on bringing jobs back and food prices down.

"We want Nawaz Sharif because we are faced with an economic crisis and whenever the Sharifs come into power, they have brought stability to Pakistan," said Sana Saleem from Lahore. "The country is in a very bad shape and I believe it can only be managed by Sharif's party. We don't have any other option than him." Others have expressed concern that Sharif's return would do little to release the country from the stranglehold of military influence or break the dominance of the political dynasties who have run Pakistan for almost half a century.

It was an alleged backroom deal with Pakistan's powerful military that enabled Sharif's return from exile and he is widely regarded as its "selected" candidate, making him a clear frontrunner.

The country's most popular political leader, the former prime minister Imran Khan, is behind bars and unable to run in the election.

Sharif's three previous terms in office ended prematurely after his relationship with the military fell apart. Yet his rise to power has been inseparably entwined with the military, who are seen as the kingmakers of Pakistani politics, and at times have ruled the country directly after taking over in coups.