First-past-the-post system: PTI, PPPP got more seats as compared to percentage of votes polled

ISLAMABAD: PTI and PPPP got an exceptionally high number of seats in assemblies as against their percentage of votes in KP and Sindh respectively.

PMLN also got more seats as against its percentage of votes in Punjab.

In contrast to this, JUIP’s (JUIF) percentage of votes in KP was more than the number of seats they secured. In KP -- according to Fafen’s report -- JUIP was second with 1,269,230 (15 percent) provincial assembly votes and secured only seven (6 percent) provincial assembly seats. For example in KP, compared to the 3,093,306 (38 percent) votes garnered by the PTI’s provincial assembly candidates, the party won 85 (75 percent) provincial assembly seats. Likewise, in Sindh, PPPP secured 5,228,678 (46 percent) provincial assembly votes and 85 (65 percent) provincial seats, states Fafen report.

Whereas, in Sindh, MQMP also secured a higher proportion of seats as against its votes. It received 905,992 (8 percent) provincial assembly votes and bagged 28 provincial assembly seats (22 percent).

In Punjab, PTI secured 11,272,578 (31 percent) provincial assembly votes. The party won 109 (37 percent) provincial assembly seats. Whereas, PMLN received 11,515,206 (32 percent) provincial assembly votes and secured 139 (47 percent) provincial assembly seats.

In Balochistan, the JUIP is the leading party in terms of the share of provincial assembly votes of 400,072 (18 percent) and nine (18 percent) provincial assembly seats. Mainly, in contrast to the three leading parties, barring the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP), several other parties along with JUIP secured a much more significant vote share that did not translate into seats.

Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the fourth largest party, did not get any National Assembly seat for its 2,918,086 (5 percent) National Assembly votes and won only one seat in the Punjab Assembly for its 3,047,019 (5 percent) provincial assembly votes. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUIP), the fifth largest party overall, secured six National Assembly seats for its 2,292,355 (4 percent) National Assembly votes and 16 provincial assembly seats for its 2,286,546 (4 percent) provincial assembly votes.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JIP), the sixth largest party overall, received 1,345,371 (2 percent) National Assembly votes but did not win any National Assembly seats. The party won three provincial assembly seats (two in Sindh and one in Balochistan) for an overall provincial vote tally of 1,739,774 (3 percent) votes.

Explaining reasons about these discrepancies in share of votes and seats secured in provincial assemblies, Sahibzada Saud, Team Lead Research and Learning Fafen, said, “Two primary factors – the electoral system and local electoral dynamics – may account for the discrepancy between a party’s share of votes and seats. The First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system selects a winner based on who receives the highest number of votes among the candidates, without considering the proportion of total polled or registered votes in a constituency or whether other candidates collectively obtain more votes than the winner. Furthermore, local political dynamics in most constituencies also contribute to this phenomenon. Since the FPTP system only necessitates that the candidate with the majority of votes wins, candidates frequently target their campaigns towards gaining sufficient support from specific local groups and communities to secure victory, rather than attempting to engage all voters within their constituency. When overall results are analysed, the discrepancies in party shares of votes and seats arising from these two factors become increasingly significant and noticeable”.