KARACHI: In Pakistan's latest general elections, the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-248 Karachi Central-II won their seat with only 17% support from registered voters. The MNA secured 103,082 votes, which amounted to 39% of the 266,077 ballots cast in the constituency. The voter turnout for this election was 44%, meaning that a significant portion of the registered voter base did not participate in the election process.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the results highlight a characteristic feature of Pakistan's First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system, where a candidate does not need an outright majority to win but simply the highest number of votes. The data from the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49) for the constituency show that 61% of the voters chose other candidates, reflecting the limited support for the winning MNA among those who voted on February 8, 2024. The runner-up in the constituency received 32% of the votes, while the third-placed candidate garnered 15%, leaving the remaining candidates with a collective 14%.

This analysis is part of a broader examination by FAFEN of electoral representativeness in Pakistan's 266 National Assembly constituencies. The study sheds light on the disconnect between voter preferences and electoral outcomes under the FPTP system. It contrasts this with a proportional representation (PR) system, where seats are allocated according to the share of votes won by parties or candidates, potentially leading to a more comprehensive reflection of voter preferences in legislative bodies. The 2024 election data underscore the disparity between votes cast and the representation achieved across Pakistan's constituencies.