Pakistan

National Assembly

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
08 Feb 2024
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
09 Aug 2023
Timing of election
Delayed elections
Expected date of next elections
28 Feb 2029
Number of seats at stake
336
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Results

About the election

No party won an outright majority in the delayed general election held in February 2024 (see note 1). Independent candidates, mostly backed by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, became the largest force in the 336-member National Assembly, winning over 100 seats (note 2). The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, became the largest parliamentary party, winning 75 seats. The Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) led by Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – the 35-year-old son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto – followed with 54 seats.

On 3 March, the National Assembly approved a new coalition government led by Mr. Shehbaz Sharif (PML-N), supported by PPPP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM (P)), Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Pakistan Muslim League (Zia) (PML (Z)), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), National Party (NP).

The 2024 elections were held under a caretaker government, which had been led by Mr. Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar since August 2023. The elections were marked by violent incidents and attacks. The key electoral issues included economic questions, transparency, and the fairness of the elections.

Note 1:

Parliamentary elections are to be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly. The five-year term of the outgoing legislature elected in 2018 expired in August 2023. The elections were thus due by November 2023.

In November 2023, the election commission said it needed time to redraw constituency boundaries after the latest census, effectively delaying the elections. The number of single-member constituencies decreased from 272 to 266. As was the case in the previous legislature, there are 60 seats reserved for women and 10 seats for non-Muslim minorities. The new National Assembly thus comprises a total of 336 members, instead of 342 as previously.

Note 2:

Supporters of Mr. Khan ran as independents. The election commission barred his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party from contesting the polls under its iconic electoral symbol (a cricket bat).

Mr. Khan was ousted as Prime Minister in a no-confidence vote in April 2022. Mr. Shehbaz Sharif (PML-N) succeeded him. Mr. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple charges, including corruption and incitement to violence. He denies all the allegations. The election commission banned him from national politics for five years.

Alternation of power after elections
Not applicable
Number of parties in government
8
Names of parties in government
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML (N)), Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM (P)), Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Pakistan Muslim League (Zia) (PML (Z)), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), National Party (NP)
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
253
Number of women elected
11

Notes:

- The election was postponed in one of the 266 constituencies due to the death of a candidate.

- Initially, 12 women were among the 265 directly elected members.

- Before the first session of the newly elected National Assembly, held on 29 February 2024, one woman vacated her seat to become Chief Minister of the Punjab Province. There were thus 11 women out of 264 directly elected members with two vacancies.

- By 1 March 2024, 39 out of 60 reserved seats had been confirmed (i.e. 21 vacancies remained).

- Initially, 7 of the 10 seats reserved for non-Muslim minorities were allotted. However, one of the non-Muslim appointees was also directly elected. There were thus 6 minority members appointed (all male) with four vacancies.

- As at 1 March 2024, there was a total of 309 members of whom 50 were women, with 27 vacancies.

Percentage of women elected
4.2%
Women Directly Elected
11
Women in other categories
39
Other notes on the elections

Note on the date of the first session:

In accordance with Article 91 (2) of the Constitution, “The National Assembly shall meet on the twenty-first day following the day on which a general election to the Assembly is held, unless sooner summoned by the President”.

Note on the Parties or coalitions winning seats

Most of the independent candidates backed by former Prime Minister Khan joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) before the first session of the newly elected National Assembly, held on 29 February 2024. As at 4 March, the National Assembly comprised the following parties.

GOVERNMENT SIDE (205 seats):

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML (N): 106 seats

Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP): 67 seats

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM(P)): 21 seats

Pakistan Muslim League (PML): 4 seats

Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP): 4 seats

Pakistan Muslim League (Zia) (PML (Z)): 1 seat

Balochistan Awami Party (BAP): 1 seat

National Party (NP): 1 seat

OPPOSITION SIDE (102 seats):

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC): 84 seats

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P): 8 seats

Independents (IND): 7 seats

Balochistan National Party (BNP): 1 seat

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan (MWM(P)): 1 seat

Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP): 1 seat

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
259
Total number of women after the election
50
Percentage of women after the election
16.2%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
29 Feb 2024

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq (Male)
Date of birth: 17 Oct 1954
Political party
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
Date of election
01 Mar 2024

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No