Muzaffargarh: In the recent general elections of 2024, the Member of the National Assembly from NA-175 Muzaffargarh-I garnered only 25% of the registered voter base, although securing the seat with 41% of the 277,221 votes cast. The elections, held under Pakistan’s First-Past-The-Post system, declared the candidate victorious with just the highest vote share, not requiring an absolute majority.
According to Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49) for the constituency indicated a voter turnout of 60%. The data reveal that 55% of those who voted chose other candidates, highlighting the winner’s lack of majority support. The second-highest vote-getter received 26% of the votes, while the third-placed candidate secured 17%. Remaining candidates collectively acquired 12%, and 4% of the votes were invalidated.
This analysis is part of FAFEN’s broader examination of electoral representativeness in Pakistan’s 266 National Assembly constituencies. The organization argues that the First-Past-The-Post system often results in elected representatives who do not have majority backing. FAFEN suggests that a proportional representation system could ensure a more accurate reflection of voter preferences, as legislative seats would be distributed in alignment with the proportion of votes each party or candidate receives. The 2024 election data underscore the disparity between votes cast and the representation achieved across all constituencies in Pakistan.