Sialkot: In the recent General Elections of 2024, the elected Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-73 Sialkot-IV secured the position with only 21 percent support from registered voters, raising concerns about voter representation and the efficacy of the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system in Pakistan.

The MNA received 112,178 votes, accounting for 43 percent of the 259,114 ballots cast. However, this figure only represented a fraction of the 534,798 registered voters in the constituency. Voter turnout was recorded at 48 percent, according to the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49), indicating that a significant portion of the electorate did not participate in the decision.

Despite the victory, 55 percent of the voters who participated in the election chose other candidates, highlighting a lack of majority support for the winner. The runner-up garnered 40 percent of the votes, while the third-place candidate received eight percent. The remaining candidates collectively secured seven percent of the votes. Additionally, 5,210 ballots, or two percent, were declared invalid.

This data is part of a broader analysis by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), examining the unrepresentativeness of electoral outcomes in Pakistan. The series focuses on how the FPTP system can lead to skewed representation, especially in constituencies with multiple candidates. In such scenarios, a significant number of voters may feel their preferences are not reflected in the results, potentially leading to questions about the legitimacy of elected officials and contributing to political instability.