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Pakistan is set to hold national polls on Thursday, February 8, amidst political unrest, a resurgence of militancy, and economic instability. Voting will occur at 90,582 polling stations across the country from 9 AM to 5 PM (local time), with Pakistan relying on traditional ballot boxes rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs).
With a population of 241 million, 128 million individuals above the age of 18 are eligible to vote. A total of 5,121 candidates are vying for seats in the National Assembly, averaging a little over 19 candidates per seat. Of these candidates, 94% are male, with 312 female candidates and two transgender candidates.
Pakistan’s National Assembly comprises 336 seats, with direct voting for 266 seats and 70 reserved seats (60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims).
After the elections, winning candidates join the National Assembly, while Independents have the option to align with any party post-results. The National Assembly conducts a parliamentary vote to choose the leader of the house, subsequently becoming the country’s prime minister.
To form a government, a party must secure a clear majority in the house, requiring the support of at least 169 members. Over 160 political parties are registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan, with major contenders including Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari.
Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, currently faces imprisonment and a ban on contesting polls. Candidates from his party, denied the use of its election symbol, are running as independents in this election.
Despite Khan’s significant grassroots following, recent setbacks for his party and Nawaz Sharif’s resurgence in the political arena suggest a predetermined outcome for the general elections, with experts pointing to Sharif as the primary contender for the prime minister’s post, a position he has held thrice in the past.
