Approximately 60 million people cast their votes in the 2024 general elections in Pakistan to choose representatives for 265 National Assembly and 590 provincial assembly constituencies, as per a report from the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
On February 8, Pakistan held its 12th general elections after over five years. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) affiliated independents took the lead, with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) securing second and third positions.
According to FAFEN, major political parties like PML-N and PPP saw an increase in their vote bank, while PTI managed to retain its vote bank in the February 8 polls.
The report stated that this calculation was based on the results of 235 National Assembly constituencies. PTI-backed candidates secured 16.85 million votes, PML-N increased its share to 13.3 million, and PPP’s share rose to 7.6 million.
FAFEN noted that despite political upheaval, discord, and polarization in the preceding two years, the election process proceeded without parties backing out. The media played a significant role in informing voters, and over 1.1 million election officials and 0.7 million police and military officials ensured the integrity and security of the process.
FAFEN Preliminary Report on… by uswah zahid
However, delays in announcing results and the suspension of cellular and internet services on election day raised concerns about the credibility of the election outcome. FAFEN’s report highlighted the need for political parties to address concerns legally and urged a smooth transition of power for political stability in the country.
The preliminary report is based on observations from 3,534 observers at 12,177 polling stations in 262 National Assembly constituencies.