The Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-34 Nowshera-II won the seat in the 2024 General Elections with the support of only 21 percent of the total registered electorate, according to an analysis of official results. While the victor secured 45 percent of the ballots cast, a majority of those who voted expressed their preference for other candidates.

According to a study report by Free and Fair Election Network today, a detailed review of the Final Consolidated Result (Form-49) by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) shows that of the 213,429 valid votes cast, the winning candidate received 95,704. However, a larger bloc of 112,452 voters, representing 53 percent of the turnout, cast their ballots for rival contenders, indicating they did not want the winner to represent them.

The election on February 8, 2024, saw a voter turnout of 47 percent in the constituency, which has a total of 452,745 registered voters. The runner-up candidate garnered 15 percent of the ballots cast, while the third-placed contender received 12 percent. The remaining candidates collectively secured 25 percent of the vote, and 5,273 ballots, or two percent of the total, were declared invalid.

This case is part of a broader FAFEN analysis on how Pakistan’s First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system can create unrepresentative outcomes. The report highlights that in multi-candidate races, a winner can be elected without majority backing, which can lead to a significant portion of the electorate feeling unrepresented. This dynamic, the analysis suggests, may raise questions about legitimacy and potentially contribute to political instability.