Nowshera: During the General Elections 2024, the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-33 Nowshera-I was elected with a mere 21 percent of the support from registered voters, according to a detailed analysis by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The MNA won the seat with 93,474 votes, amounting to 46 percent of the 202,814 ballots cast in the constituency. However, this figure only represents 21 percent of the 444,342 registered voters in the area, highlighting a significant gap in voter representation.

The Final Consolidated Result (Form-49) of the constituency revealed a voter turnout of 46 percent. Despite the victory, the MNA did not gain the majority support of those who voted on February 8, 2024. In fact, 51 percent of voters, totaling 103,621, cast their ballots for other candidates, signaling their preference for alternative representation.

In the electoral contest, the runner-up candidate secured 13 percent of the votes, while the third-placed candidate garnered 12 percent. The remaining candidates collectively received 26 percent of the votes. Additionally, 5,719 ballots, or three percent of the total cast, were declared invalid and did not contribute to any candidate’s tally.

This analysis is part of FAFEN’s broader examination of Pakistan’s electoral system, which underscores the limitations of the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral framework. In constituencies with multiple candidates, the system can lead to outcomes where a large portion of voters feel unrepresented, raising concerns about the legitimacy of elected officials and potentially fueling political instability.