The Pakistan General Elections originally scheduled for 2023, were held on 8 February 2024. These elections were for choosing members of the 16th National Assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan released the election schedule on 15 December 2023.
Background
The elections came after a turbulent two years of political instability. Prime Minister Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was removed from office through a no-confidence motion. Following his removal, Khan faced arrest, was convicted of corruption, and was barred from participating in politics for five years. Additionally, the Supreme Court’s decision to strip the PTI of its electoral symbol—due to the party’s failure to conduct internal elections—further complicated the political landscape.
Election Results and Initial Reactio
In Pakistan General Elections television reports indicated that PTI-backed independent candidates were leading in about 127 National Assembly seats, suggesting a potential PTI majority. However, the announcement of the final results was unexpectedly halted. Ultimately, independent candidates won 103 general seats, with 93 of those backed by PTI. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) won 75 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured 54 seats. In Punjab and Sindh provinces, PML-N and PPP emerged as the largest parties respectively. PTI-backed independents performed best in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Balochistan saw PPP and PML-N as dominant. All parties, except PTI, were allocated reserved seats for women and minorities.
Allegations of Rigging
Accusations surfaced regarding election rigging, particularly favoring the PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif to prevent Imran Khan’s return. The military establishment was accused of influencing the results to keep PTI out of power. International observer groups and countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, expressed concerns about the election’s fairness. Many global media outlets criticized the election as fraudulent.
PTI’s Response and Opposition Role
PTI’s chair, Gohar Ali Khan, alleged election fraud and claimed that the PTI had won 180 National Assembly seats based on provisional results. Although PTI-backed independents did not secure a majority, they won the most seats of any single party. Imran Khan also claimed election rigging and chose not to form a coalition government, instead opting to assume an opposition role in the National Assembly.
Formation of Coalition Government
On 13 February 2024, In Pakistan General Elections leaders from the PML-N and PPP announced their intention to form a coalition government, with Shahbaz Sharif from PML-N set to become Prime Minister. Other parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), also pledged support for the coalition. By 3 March 2024, Shehbaz Sharif was re-elected as Prime Minister with 201 votes, defeating PTI-backed candidate Omar Ayub Khan, who received 92 votes. Despite no single party achieving a majority, Shehbaz Sharif became Prime Minister with the backing of the PML-N’s coalition partners.
