ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP): Independent candidates contesting for national and provincial assembly seats seemed to be taking the lead over mainstream political parties in the General Election 2024, as per the results received by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by 5.00 p.m.
According to the available results (Form-47) of 143 National Assembly constituencies, independent candidates managed to secure 59 seats, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) 42, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) 36, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) one, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan 4, and Grand Democratic Alliance one seat.
Out of 155 Punjab Assembly-seat results, independent candidates bagged 78 seats, PML-N 72, PPPP two, and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) three.
For the Sindh Assembly, PPPP so far secured 79 seats, independent candidates 10, MQM-P seven, GDA 2, and Jamaat-e-Islami one, out of the total 99 constituencies’ results announced by the time of filing of this update.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, independent candidates so far clinched 73 provincial assembly seats, PML-N 5, PPPP two, JUI one, JI three, and JUI-P one, out of 88 seats.
In Balochistan, PML-N secured three seats, PPPP five, JUI three, and one each by independent, JI, and Balochistan National Party-Awami, as per the results announced for 14 seats so far.
Polling for the General Election 2024 concluded overall in a peaceful manner on Thursday at 5 pm after commencing simultaneously across the country at 8 am. The nine-hour polling continued without any break to provide maximum time to citizens to exercise their right to vote enshrined in the constitution.
According to the ECP, over 128 million registered voters were scheduled to exercise their democratic right by casting votes for candidates participating in elections for the national and provincial legislatures. The polling was held for 265 seats of the National Assembly and 590 seats of provincial assemblies.
The voting took place on 51 seats of the Balochistan Assembly, 128 out of 130 seats of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, 296 out of 297 seats of the Punjab Assembly, and 130 seats of the Sindh Assembly.
The polling was held in 855 constituencies out of overall 859; however, due to the death of the candidate, voting was not held in NA 8, PP 266, PK 22, and PK 91.
It was the 5th consecutive general polls for the transfer of power by one democratic set-up to another since the dawn of the 21st century (2002-2024), reflecting the nation’s solid commitment to democracy, democratic values, and norms. The polls were held overall in a smooth and peaceful manner as no major untoward incident was reported throughout the country on election day with active participation of the citizens who came out in droves to exercise their right to vote for electing candidates of their choice.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ensured elaborate arrangements in collaboration with security departments and other state institutions to conduct the election in a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful manner across the country.
