Pakistan, Nov. 5 -- Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki continues to wield immense influence in Iraq's political landscape, even as critics hold him responsible for deepening sectarian divisions and failing to prevent the Islamic State's rise a decade ago.

Now in his mid-70s, Maliki leads the powerful State of Law coalition, a Shi'ite Muslim bloc widely expected to play a decisive role in choosing Iraq's next premier following the upcoming November 11 parliamentary elections.

Maliki, who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, was forced to step down after mounting pressure from an unlikely alliance of the US, Iran, Sunni leaders, and Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric. His administration was blamed for worsening sectarian violence a...