Shikarpur: In the recent General Elections of 2024, the elected Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-193 Shikarpur secured a significant portion of the votes cast but received the backing of only 27% of the registered voters in the constituency. The MNA garnered 138,634 votes, equivalent to 62% of the 225,203 ballots cast, yet this represented just a fraction of the 506,341 registered voters.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the voter turnout in the constituency was recorded at 44%. NA-193 was one of the 70 out of 266 National Assembly constituencies where the winning candidate managed to secure 50% or more of the votes polled. However, a considerable number of voters, totaling 77,824 or 35%, did not support the winner. Additionally, the winner's share among the total registered voters was only 27%.

The runner-up candidate obtained 26% of the votes cast, while the third-placed candidate received 2%. The remaining candidates collectively secured 6% of the votes, and 8,745 ballots, or 4%, were declared invalid.

This analysis is part of FAFEN's broader review of electoral representativeness across Pakistan's 266 National Assembly constituencies. The First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system used in Pakistan allows candidates to win seats by securing the highest number of votes, even if that number does not constitute a majority. This often results in elected representatives who do not have majority support. In contrast, a proportional representation (PR) system would allocate legislative seats in line with the vote shares won, offering a wider reflection of voter preferences. The 2024 election data reveal a significant gap between votes cast and representation in the National Assembly.