South Waziristan: In a striking outcome of the 2024 General Elections, the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-42 South Waziristan Upper-cum-South Waziristan Lower was elected with only four percent support from registered voters. The election, held on February 8, saw a voter turnout of just 17 percent.

According to the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49) from the constituency, the winning candidate garnered 20,240 votes, representing 26 percent of the 77,942 ballots cast. However, this figure accounts for a mere four percent of the total 467,292 registered voters, highlighting a significant gap between voter registration and participation.

Despite the victory, the election results reveal that 70 percent of voters opted for other candidates. The runner-up candidate received 21 percent of the votes, while the third-placed candidate secured 18 percent. The remaining candidates together captured 31 percent of the vote. Additionally, 2,756 ballots, or four percent of the total, were declared invalid.

This electoral outcome is part of a broader analysis by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), which examines the representational challenges in Pakistan’s First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system. The report suggests that multi-candidate contests often result in a significant portion of the electorate feeling unrepresented, raising concerns about the legitimacy of elected officials and contributing to potential political instability in the region.