Pakistan To Vote On February 8: When Will The Election Results Be Announced?

General elections for its National Assembly and provincial assemblies in its four provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh are all set to be held by Pakistan on February 8.

With the electioneering coming to an end tonight, rallies across major cities in Pakistan are planned to be held by top leaders including Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asif Ali Zardari, and Maulana Fazlur Reham, reported Times Of India.

Pakistan Elections 2024

Here is all you need to know about the upcoming elections, Pakistan's economic and political situation, and its electoral system in 10 data points.

1. With a population of 241 million, Pakistan is ranked as the fifth most populous country globally, boasting approximately 128 million registered voters, of whom 69 million are male and 59 million are female. However, it is anticipated that the voter turnout will be significantly lower, as seen in the 2018 elections where the turnout was below 52%, with the highest ever recorded turnout being 61% in 1971, as reported by Indian Express.

2. A significant portion of Pakistan's population is under the age of 35, with 44% of registered voters falling within this demographic, reflecting the country's youthful median age of only 20. This demographic group holds substantial importance in the upcoming elections, considering that a large segment of the population has yet to reach the legal voting age of 18.

3. The National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of its bicameral parliamentary system, comprises 266 directly-elected seats. These representatives are elected through a first-past-the-post system, wherein the candidate securing the highest number of votes in a given constituency is elected.

4. Additionally, the National Assembly reserves 60 seats for women and 10 seats for non-Muslims, allocated to political parties based on their performance in the national elections.

5. Pakistan's four provinces-Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-along with the Islamabad Capital Territory, vary significantly in population size, thereby influencing the number of seats they hold in the National Assembly. Punjab holds the largest number of seats (173), followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad.

6. The Election Commission of Pakistan has registered a total of 5,121 candidates for the upcoming elections, with an average of over 19 candidates per seat. Among these candidates, nearly 94% are male, while only 312 are female, and there are also 2 transgender candidates, as per Indian Express report.

7. These candidates belong to 167 political parties registered with the Election Commission or are running as independents. Major parties include Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Pakistan People's Party, and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which is contesting as independents due to restrictions.

8. Citizens will cast their votes on February 8 at one of the 90,582 polling stations situated across the country, categorized as 'highly sensitive', 'sensitive', and 'normal'. Unlike India, Pakistan relies on ballot boxes rather than electronic voting machines.

9. Pakistan's economy faces significant challenges, with inflation nearing 30% and the Pakistani Rupee devaluing by nearly 50% against the US Dollar over the past two years. The IMF bailout has resulted in further cuts in social spending, exacerbating polarization within the populace.

10. Allegations of malpractice have plagued Pakistan's elections, with Imran Khan, a prominent political figure, under arrest on multiple charges. PTI, one of the major political parties, has been barred from contesting elections, leading to the arrest of hundreds of its workers and candidates. The public's reaction to PTI's sidelining remains to be seen.

When will the election results be announced?

According to Section 98 of the Elections Act, the publication of official results within 14 days of the election is required by the Election Commission of Pakistan. With the voting scheduled for February 8, this implies that official results should be announced by Thursday, February 22.