Khushab: The recent general elections in NA-87 Khushab-I have sparked discussions on voter representation, as the winning candidate secured only 24 percent of the registered voters' support. The Member of the National Assembly (MNA) was elected with 117,775 votes, translating to 43 percent of the 273,165 ballots cast, but a mere 24 percent of the 489,879 registered voters.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the constituency's final results, detailed in the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49), revealed a voter turnout of 56 percent on February 8, 2024. Despite the victory, 153,588 voters, or 56 percent of those who cast their ballots, opted for other candidates, indicating a lack of majority support for the elected representative.

The data showed the runner-up garnered 40 percent of the votes, while the third-placed candidate received five percent. The remaining candidates collectively obtained 11 percent. Additionally, 1,802 votes, representing one percent, were declared invalid, not contributing to any candidate's total.

This analysis is part of a series by FAFEN examining the unrepresentativeness of electoral outcomes in Pakistan. The reports focus on how the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system impacts representation in multi-candidate contests. Such dynamics can lead to a majority of voters feeling unrepresented, raising legitimacy concerns and potentially contributing to political instability.