Pakistan 2024 Election: Understanding the Voting Process
On February 8, Pakistan is set to cast ballots for its national and state legislatures amidst political volatility and significant economic hurdles.
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Pakistan 2024 Election
This Thursday, 128 million Pakistani citizens will exercise their right to vote, shaping the future government and provincial legislatures in the nation’s 12th general elections. This marks another stride towards solidifying democracy in Pakistan, a country where the military has wielded considerable influence for over three decades since its independence in 1947. Even during civilian rule, the military’s presence and impact on politics have been palpable, a reality acknowledged by former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa in November 2022.
In recent weeks, accusations regarding the military’s interference in politics have gained traction, particularly amidst a crackdown on former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Khan’s incarceration has rendered him unable to contest the elections, and the PTI has been deprived of utilizing its electoral symbol, the cricket bat. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that civilian leadership has ostensibly held power for the past 16 years, marking the lengthiest uninterrupted civilian rule in Pakistan’s independent history.
Given this context, how will the upcoming elections on February 8 unfold?
The when, where and what of voting
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Despite the subdued nature of the campaign season leading up to the elections, the upcoming polls hold significant weight, as they will determine the government tasked with stabilizing a nation grappling with a tumultuous political landscape, escalating violence, and economic instability.
Additionally, voters will be selecting legislators for their provincial assemblies, granting each voter the opportunity to cast two votes—one for the National Assembly and another for the provincial assembly.
The voting process is slated to commence at 8 am (03:00 GMT) and will persist without interruption until 5 pm (12:00 GMT). Those already queued to vote at 5 pm will be permitted to cast their ballots, even if it prolongs the process. In the event of violence or disruptions at certain polling stations, officials retain the authority to extend voting hours to ensure all voters can participate.
Counting of the votes will promptly commence following the closure of voting, with tentative results anticipated to surface within a few hours.
How are the National Assembly seats distributed?
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Following the outcomes of the national census conducted in 2023, a delimitation process was undertaken, resulting in adjustments to the boundaries of numerous constituencies and a change in the total number of seats. Consequently, the seat count in the National Assembly was reduced from 272 to 266.
The northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province saw an increase of seats from 39 to 45. Punjab, the largest province by population, retained 141 seats. With more than half of the National Assembly seats, Punjab becomes the biggest battleground on February 8.
Sindh, the second-most populous province, and Balochistan, the country’s largest but most impoverished province, both retained their previous National Assembly seats at 61 and 16, respectively.
The Islamabad Capital Territory has three seats, as it did previously. In addition, 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for minorities, which are allotted on the basis of 5 percent proportional representation in the National Assembly.
What about the upper house of parliament?
In addition to electing members for the National Assembly, the provincial assemblies of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh will also select representatives who will subsequently vote in a chief minister for their respective provinces.
Reflective of Punjab’s representation in the National Assembly, it boasts the largest provincial legislature with 371 seats. Sindh follows with 168 seats, trailed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 124 seats and Balochistan with 65 seats.
What about provincial elections?
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Aside from electing members for the National Assembly, the assemblies of the four provinces – Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh – will also elect representatives who, subsequently, will vote in a chief minister for their respective provinces.
Punjab, proportionate to its representation in the National Assembly, boasts the largest legislature with 371 seats. Sindh’s assembly comprises 168 seats, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 124 seats and Balochistan with 65.
As in the National Assembly, some of the seats in the provincial legislatures are reserved for women and minorities. These are distributed proportionately to parties based on their representation in the legislature.