Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ In the midst of a severe economic downturn, Pakistan braces for its electoral process on February 8, 2024. Accordingly, an estimated 128 million Pakistani citizens have registered to exercise their voting rights and will convene at polling stations nationwide to determine the country’s next Prime Minister. The upcoming polls extend beyond the selection of a new Prime Minister, as citizens will also cast their ballots to shape the governments of Pakistan’s four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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On February 8, 2024, the election procedures will unfold across 90,582 designated polling stations dispersed throughout Pakistan. Following the closure of the polls, the tallying of votes will commence. In accordance with Section 98 of the Elections Act in Pakistan, the official declaration of results must be made within 14 days post-election. Consequently, the outcome of the Pakistan Election 2024 is anticipated to be unveiled no later than February 22, 2024.
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A staggering 128 million individuals have registered to participate in current elections. Among these, approximately 69.2 million are male voters, while the remaining 59.3 million are female voters. The current 2024 elections are poised to be particularly youth-centric, with 44 percent of eligible voters falling under the age of 35. Additionally, 22 percent of voters belong to the age bracket of 36 to 45 years. Furthermore, over 5,000 candidates are competing for the 266 available seats in the government. Forty-four political parties across the nation are competing for representation within the national assembly.
Following the announcement of results, the elected members of the National Assembly will proceed to designate the nation’s Prime Minister. A prime ministerial candidate must secure a majority within the House, necessitating the support of at least 169 members in the National Assembly. In the absence of a single party securing the requisite majority, the formation of a coalition government becomes imperative. Presently, Pakistan’s political landscape is dominated by three major parties: the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The primary contenders for the position of Prime Minister include former officeholders Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League and Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. While Sharif pledges economic revitalization following his return from self-exile in London, Imran Khan remains incarcerated, serving a 31-year sentence for multiple infractions of the law. Entering the Prime Ministerial race as a newcomer is Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the former foreign minister. Representing the Pakistan People’s Party, Bhutto is the son of Benazir Bhutto, the inaugural Muslim woman leader on the global stage.
