Decoding Pakistan’s 2024 Election: Unveiling Key Insights and Implications

The 2024 parliamentary election in Pakistan was momentous, with 44 parties vying for a share of the 266 seats in the National Assembly. Amidst allegations of vote rigging, unprecedented mobile phone shutdowns, and delays in result announcements, the election unfolded with tension and anticipation.

Delays, delays, delays

• The national mobile shutdown, implemented to maintain law and order, inadvertently led to delays in communication. Even 15 hours after the polls closed, the Election Commission had not published any results. The uncertainty and instability persisted as more than a dozen results remained pending.
• The lack of transparency raised concerns among Pakistan’s national human rights body and the international community, including the U.S. and the European Union.

Vote Rigging and Other Tricks

• Candidates observed significant leads suddenly disappearing during the vote count. Results that initially favored them were reversed, declaring opponents as winners.
• Independent candidates backed by imprisoned ex-premier Imran Khan’s party reported the most irregularities and impediments. Salman Akram Raja, one such candidate, filed a case challenging the results in his constituency.

Trends and turnout

While the Election Commission has yet to release official voter turnout figures, early analysis suggests that approximately 60 million people participated out of a total electorate of 127 million. This translates to a 48% turnout, lower than the 2018 parliamentary polls.

Key Players Ahead of the Vote

• The election featured prominent figures from three main parties: Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP, and Imran Khan’s party, PTI.
• Each party’s performance and strategies shaped the electoral landscape, making them pivotal players in Pakistan’s political arena.

Coalition Government Prospects

• With no single party securing a majority of 169 seats, the party with the largest share will likely form a coalition government.
• The delicate balance of power and negotiations among parties will determine the future direction of Pakistan’s governance.

What are the allegations of vote rigging?

The 2024 Pakistan parliamentary election was marred by allegations of vote rigging and irregularities. Here are some key points:

1. Violence and Attacks:
   • On the day of the election, sporadic attacks were reported across Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people, including two children.
   • Security personnel were deployed, but five policemen were killed in a bomb blast and firing in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
   • Grenade attacks occurred in different parts of Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, leading to casualties and injuries.
   • The attacks followed explosions near electoral candidates’ offices in Balochistan the previous day, where the Islamic State claimed responsibility.
2. Suspension of Mobile Services:
   • Mobile phone services were temporarily suspended during the election, affecting communication and transparency.
   • The suspension prompted criticism from the opposition, which questioned the fairness of the polling process.
3. Pre-Poll Rigging:
   • Observers predicted that the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the crackdown on his party could result in a low turnout.
   • Imran Khan, behind bars on corruption charges, was barred from running due to his multiple convictions.
4. Specific Allegations:
   • The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accused former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of “stealing public mandate” by showing an election paper that indicated total valid votes greater than the total number of votes cast in the NA-130 constituency.

Despite these challenges, the nation awaits the official results, hoping for transparency and fair representation in the National Assembly.