Faisalabad: In the recent general elections held on February 8, 2024, the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-99 Faisalabad-V secured victory with only 25 percent of the total registered voter support. The elected representative garnered 120,797 votes, representing 47 percent of the 259,299 ballots cast in the constituency.

According to Free and Fair Election Network's (FAFEN) analysis, as documented in the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49) of the constituency, the voter turnout was recorded at 53 percent. Despite winning the seat, the MNA did not receive the backing of the majority of voters who participated in the election, as 128,848 votes, or 50 percent of the ballots, went to other candidates, reflecting a significant portion of the electorate's preference for alternative representation.

The runner-up in the election obtained 31 percent of the votes cast, while the third-placed candidate received six percent. The remaining candidates collectively accumulated 13 percent of the votes. Notably, 9,654 ballots, equating to four percent of the total, were declared invalid and did not contribute to any candidate's tally.

This election outcome forms a part of FAFEN's broader analysis on the representativeness of Pakistan's electoral results. The series emphasizes the challenges posed by the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system in multi-candidate contests, where the division of votes can lead to a perception of underrepresentation among the electorate, potentially fueling political instability. Readers are encouraged to visit the FAFEN website for detailed analyses of electoral outcomes across various constituencies.