2024 Balochistan provincial election explained

Country:Balochistan
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 Balochistan provincial election
Previous Year:2018
Election Date:8 February 2024
Next Year:Next
Seats For Election:51 out of 65 seats in the Balochistan Assembly
Majority Seats:33
Turnout:42.87% (2.40%)[1]
Previous Mps:List of members of the 11th Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
Elected Mps:List of members of the 12th Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
Image1:Flagge der Pakistanischen Volkspartei.svg
Leader1:Sarfraz Bugti
Leader Since1:18 December 2023
Party1:Pakistan People's Party
Leaders Seat1:Dera Bugti
Seats1:19
Seat Change1: 19
Last Election1:3.09%, 0 seats
Seats Needed1: 33
Popular Vote1:367,837
Percentage1:15.98%
Swing1: 12.89pp
Leader3:Maulana Abdul Wasey
Party3:Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)
Leader Since3:-
Leaders Seat3:Killa Saifullah (lost)
Seats3:14
Seat Change3: 14
Last Election3:Did not contest
Seats Needed3: 33
Popular Vote3:392,626
Percentage3:17.06%
Swing3:n/a
Leader2:Jaffar Khan Mandokhail
Leader Since2:3 February 2023
Party2:Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Leaders Seat2:Zhob (lost)
Seats2:18
Seat Change2: 17
Last Election2:1.54%, 1 seat
Seats Needed2: 32
Popular Vote2:278,924
Percentage2:12.12%
Swing2: 10.58pp
Chief Minister
Before Election:Abdul Quddus Bizenjo
Before Party:Balochistan Awami Party
After Election:Sarfraz Bugti
After Party:Pakistan People's Party
Registered:5,371,947

Provincial elections were held in Balochistan on 8 February 2024 to elect a new provincial legislature. On 5 August 2023, after the approval of the results of the 2023 digital census by the Council of Common Interests headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, elections have been delayed for several months, as new delimitations will be published on 14 December 2023.[2] [3] On 2 November 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced, in agreement with the President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, that the elections will be held on 8 February 2024.[4] This election will be held concurrently with nationwide general elections and other provincial elections.

Background

In the 2018 election, the newly formed Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), created by former members of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), emerged as the largest party in the province by winning 24 seats.[5]

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) (BNP-M) became the second and third largest parties by securing 10 seats each.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 7 seats and emerged as the fourth largest party in the province for the very first time.

The PML(N), the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) and the National Party faced their worst ever defeats, as they won one, one, and zero seats, respectively.

Since no party got the majority, the BAP, PTI, Awami National Party (ANP) and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) formed a coalition government.[6]

On 26 September 2021, a political crisis occurred in the province after a motion of a no-confidence motion was tabled against Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani.[7] Alyani resigned on 24 October 2021.[8]

Abdul Quddus Bizenjo became the new Chief Minister on 29 October 2021.[9]

On 12 August 2023, the Assembly was dissolved by Governor Abdul Wali Kakar on Bizenjo's advice.[10]

Ban on PTI from contesting as a party

On 22 December 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decided against letting the PTI retain its electoral symbol, arguing that the party had failed to hold intra-party elections. On 22 December, the PTI approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the ECP's order and hence, a single-member bench suspended the ECP's order until 9 January 2024. On 30 December 2023, the ECP filed a review application within the PHC, and days later, a two-member bench withdrew the suspension order as it heard the case. However, on 10 January 2024, the two-member bench had declared the ECP's order to be "illegal, without any lawful authority, and of no legal effect. On 11 January, the ECP challenged this ruling in the Supreme Court, and on 13 January, a three-member bench ruled in favor of the ECP and stripped the PTI of its electoral symbol. As a consequence of this ruling, the PTI could not allot party tickets to any of its candidates. Therefore, all candidates of the party will be listed as independent candidates and each will have a different electoral symbol.[11]

Schedule

The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan on 15 December 2023.[12]

Sr noPoll EventSchedule
1Public Notice Issued by the Returning Officers19 December 2023
2Dates of filing Nomination papers with the Returning Officers by the candidates20 December 2023 to 24 December 2023
3Publication of names of the nominated candidates.24 December 2023
4Last date of scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer25 December 2023 to 30 December 2023
5Last date of filing appeals against decisions of the Returning Officer rejecting/accepting nomination papers.3 January 2024
6Last date for deciding of appeals by the Appellate Tribunal10 January 2024
7Publication of revised list of candidates11 January 2024
8Last date of withdrawal of candidate and publication of revised list of candidates12 January 2024
9Allotment of election symbol to contesting candidates13 January 2024
10Date of Polling and Counting of Votes8 February 2024

Electoral system

The 65 seats of the Balochistan Assembly consist of 51 general seats, whose members are elected by the first-past-the-post voting system through single-member constituencies. 11 seats are reserved for women and 3 seats are reserved for non-Muslims. The members on these seats are elected through proportional representation based on the total number of general seats secured by each political party.

Results

PartyPopular voteSeats
GeneralReservedTotal+/−
Votes%±ppContestedWonIndependents JoinedTotalWomenNon-Muslims
Pakistan Peoples Party381,54916.73+13.644811415311919
Pakistan Muslim League (N)297,06313.03+11.494012214311817
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)399,82517.53N/A4690921121
Balochistan Awami Party127,3405.58-18.862940410519
National Party135,5895.95+1.04303031044
Awami National Party92,6094.06+1.33202021031
Balochistan National Party (Mengal)109,6414.81-4.23381010019
Balochistan National Party (Awami)19,1080.84-2.95191010012
Jamat-e-Islami24,5871.08N/A381010011
Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan20,9960.92N/A7101001
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf72,0303.16-2.89280000007
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party132,7215.82-0.68240000001
Hazara Democratic Party14,0700.62-0.0820000002
Jamhoori Wattan Party26,3001.15-0.4140000001
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan19,4030.85+0.2621000000
Independents407,69817.88660000
Others000000
Total2,280,529100%5111365
Valid votes2,280,529
Invalid votes
Votes cast/ turnout42.87%
Abstentions
Registered voters5,371,947
Source: Election Commission of Pakistan[13]

Division-wise results

DivisionTotal seatsPPPPML(N)JUI(F)BAPNPANPBNP(M)BNP(A)JIHDT
Zhob6132-------
Sibi431--------
Nasirabad723-1----1-
Rakhshan4-121------
Kalat921311-1---
Makran721--2--1-1
Quetta146321-2----
Total51161394321111

District-wise results

DivisionDistrictTotal seatsPPPPML(N)JUI(F)BAPNPANPBNP(M)BNP(A)JIHDT
ZhobSherani1--1-------
Zhob1--1-------
Killa Saifullah11---------
Musakhail1-1--------
Barkhan
Loralai1-1--------
Duki1-1--------
SibiZiarat1-1--------
Harnai
Sibi11---------
Kohlu11---------
Dera Bugti11---------
NasirabadJhal Magsi1---1------
Kachhi1-1--------
Nasirabad211--------
Sohbatpur1-1--------
Jaffarabad1--------1-
Usta Muhammad11---------
KalatKhuzdar31-1---1--
Hub11--------
Lasbela1-1--------
Awaran1----1-----
MakranGwadar1---------1
Kech421--1-----
Panjgur2----1--1--
RakhshanWashuk1--1-------
Chagai1---1------
Kharan1-1--------
Nushki1--1-------
KalatSurab1--1-------
Kalat1---1------
Mastung1--1-------
QuettaQuetta952-1-1----
Pishin31-2-------
Killa Abdullah1-----1----
Chaman1-1--------
Total51161394321111

Constituency-wise results

DistrictConstituencyWinnerRunner UpMarginTurnout
%
No.NameCandidatePartyVotes%CandidatePartyVotes%
SheraniPB-1Sherani-Cum-ZhobNawaz KibzaiJUI(F)14,18337.71Shan ZamanIND8,56222.775,62138.83
ZhobPB-2ZhobFazal Qadir MandokhailJUI(F)11,45334.21Mitha Khan KakarIND9,11527.222,33837.55
Killa SaifullahPB-3Killa SaifullahNoor UllahIND24,40837.51Abdul WaseyJUI(F)20,66131.763,74754.24
Musakhel-BarkhanPB-4Musakhel-cum-BarkhanSardar Abdul Rehman KethranPML(N)24,17231.40Abdul KarimNP19,01224.705,16051.59
LoralaiPB-5LoralaiMuhammad Khan Toor UtmankhelPML(N)14,42426.99Molvi Faiz UllahJUI(F)12,45622.311,96846.47
DukiPB-6DukiSardar Masood Ali Khan LuniPML(N)10,37721.54Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan NasirIND9,80420.3557376.52
Ziarat-HarnaiPB-7Ziarat cum HarnaiNoor Muhammad DummarPML(N)29,85739.24Khalil Ur RehmanJUI(F)25,97334.143,88462.15
SibiPB-8SibiSardar Sarfraz Chakar DomkiPPP27,67751.22Mir Muhammad Asghar khan MarriIND23,76943.993,90847.39
KohluPB-9KohluMir Naseeb Ullah KhanPPP5,88833.09Gazreen Khan MarriIND3,35118.832,53725.36
Dera BugtiPB-10Dera BugtiSarfraz BugtiPPP52,48564.96Gohram BugtiJWP25,77331.9026,71260.54
Jhal MagsiPB-11Jhal MagsiNawabzada Tariq MagsiBAP44,55690.32Mir Murtaza AbbasBNP(M)1,2442.5343,31267.96
KachhiPB-12KachhiMir Muhammad Asim KurdPML(N)22,55742.82Yar Muhammad RindIND17,86933.924,68838.32
NasirabadPB-13Nasirabad-IMir Muhammad Sadiq ImraniPPP14,85633.46Mir Sikandar AliIND9,50521.415,35136.07
PB-14Nasirabad-IIMuhammad Khan LehriPML(N)22,63951.79Ghulam RasoolPPP18,94843.353,69145.09
SohbatpurPB-15SohbatpurSaleem AhmedPML(N)24,61953.36Muhammad DoranPPP15,99734.678,62242.35
JafarabadPB-16JafarabadAbdul Majeed BadiniJI15,24833.24Rahat JamaliPML(N)14,13130.811,11736.28
Usta MuhammadPB-17Usta MuhammadFaisal Khan JamaliPPP28,33358.76Mir Jan Muhammad Khan JamaliBAP13,97728.9914,35636.25
KhuzdarPB-18Khuzdar-ISana Ullah ZehriPPP20,01452.38Ghulam SarwarJUI(F)13,79136.096,22350.02
PB-19Khuzdar-IIMir Younis Aziz ZehriJUI(F)19,13735.70Shakeel Ahmed DurraniPPP15,20628.373,93144.23
PB-20Khuzdar-IIIAkhtar MengalBNP(M)28,09762.25Mir Shafique Ur Rehman MengalIND9,24320.4818,85451.21
HubPB-21HubAli Hassan ZehriPPP23,97434.09Rajab Ali RindNP17,44124.806,53362.67
LasbelaPB-22LasbelaJam Kamal KhanPML(N)38,56249.46Muhammad HassanPPP18,37323.5720,18960.08
AwaranPB-23AwaranKhair JanNP15,63557.07Abdul Qaddus BizenjoPPP9,23333.706,40231.80
GwadarPB-24GwadarHidayat ur Rehman BalochHDT20,92541.63Mir HamalBNP(M)16,52232.874,40337.97
KechPB-25Kech-IZahoor Ahmed BalediPPP9,09961.49Jan MuhammadNP4,89533.084,20422.11
PB-26Kech-IIAbdul Malik BalochNP14,00456.07Syed Ehsan ShahBNP(M)9,60838.474,39631.62
PB-27Kech-IIIBarkat Ali RindPML(N)15,55259.67Jamil Ahmed DashtiIND4,62217.7310,93045.36
PB-28Kech-IVMir Asghar RindPPP7,09050.15Mir Hamal KhanNP4,36619.272,72424.38
PanjgurPB-29Panjgur-IMir Asadullah BalochBNP(A)7,26346.88Haji Muhammad IslamNP4,54729.352,71628.73
PB-30Panjgur-IIRahmat Saleh BalochNP9,69049.43Shakeel AhmedBNP(A)8,34942.591,34130.32
WashukPB-31WashukMir Zabid Ali RekiJUI(F)17,05850.02Mir Mujib Ur Rehman Muhammad HasaniPML(N)16,00846.941,05053.65
ChagaiPB-32ChagaiSadiq SanjraniBAP19,90139.38Aman UllahJUI(F)17,17833.992,72343.69
KharanPB-33KharanMir Shoaib NosherwaniPML(N)11,20732.43Sana Ullah BalochBNP(M)9,05026.192,15752.46
NushkiPB-34NushkiMir Ghulam Dastgir BadeniJUI(F)16,77138.44Muhammad RaheemBNP(M)15,01434.411,75741.79
SurabPB-35SurabMir Zafar Khan Ullah ZehriJUI(F)16,57955.69Mir Naimat Ullah ZehriPPP11,11337.335,46650.79
KalatPB-36KalatMir Ziaullah LangauBAP14,84835.08Mir Saeed Ahmed LangoveJUI(F)11,02526.053,82341.92
MastungPB-37MastungAslam RaisaniJUI(F)13,66832.47Sardar Noor Muhammad BangalzaiPPP11,42627.152,24232.97
QuettaPB-38Quetta-IMalik Naeem Khan BazaiANP7,79231.15Ainullah ShamsJUI(F)6,28025.101,51232.27
PB-39Quetta-IIBakht Muhammad KakarIND6,61820.36Syed Abdul WahidJUI(F)5,87818.0874034.47
PB-40Quetta-IIISamad Khan GorgagePPP9,22531.48Qadir AliHDP5,58819.073,63739.05
PB-41Quetta-IVWali Muhammad NoorzaiIND9,31824.98Abdul Gaffar KakarPTI-IND7,27019.492,04830.79
PB-42Quetta-VSheikh Zarak Khan MandokhailPML(N)10,42324.02Abdul KhaliqHDP8,52019.641,90331.03
PB-43Quetta-VIMir Liaquat Ali LehriIND7,27717.22Sardar Doda KhanPTI-IND5,19012.282,08730.42
PB-44Quetta-VIIMir Ubaidullah GorgagePPP7,12525.83Mir Attaullah BangalzaiNP6,38523.1574031.97
PB-45Quetta-VIIIAli Madad JattakPPP5,67133.56Mir Muhammad Usman ParkaniJUI(F)4,34625.721,32533.63
PB-46Quetta-IXPrince Ahmed Omar AhmedzaiBAP4,63827.28Sardar Ahmed Khan ShahwaniJUI(F)1,75210.302,88623.04
PishinPB-47Pishin-IAsfand Yar KakarIND21,71442.51Kamal Ud DinJUI(F)18,98937.172,72551.64
PB-48Pishin-IIAsghar Ali TareenJUI(F)17,94442.86Sardar Amjad KhanPKMAP15,01335.862,93143.04
PB-49Pishin-IISyed Zafar Ali AghaJUI(F)13,81133.49Agha Syed Liaquat AliPKMAP12,77830.991,03339.00
Killa AbdullahPB-50Killa AbdullahZamrak KhanANP44,71233.47Muhammad NawazJUI(F)43,44532.521,26781.99
ChamanPB-51ChamanAbdul Khaliq Khan AchakzaiIND20,39026.00Asghar KhanANP19,62325.0376740.41

Members elected on Reserved seats

Party!Member
For WomenPakistan Peoples PartyGhazala Gola
Meena
Shahnaz Umrani
Pakistan Muslim League (N)Rahila Durrani
Hadia Nawaz
Rubaba Khan
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)Shahida Rauf
Safia
Balochistan Awami PartyFarah Azeem Shah
National PartyUme Kalsoom
Awami National PartySalma Bibi
For Non-MuslimsPakistan Peoples PartySanjay Kumar
Pakistan Muslim League (N)Patrick Sant Masih
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F)Ravi Pahuja

Aftermath

After Elections 4 Independents elected from PB-3, PB-39, PB-43 and PB-47 joined Pakistan People's Party and 2 from PB-41 and PB-51 joined Pakistan Muslim League (N).[14] [15]

PPP and PML(N) both got 3 reserved seats for women each, JUI(F) got 2 and ANP and NP got 1 seats each. PML(N), PPP and JUI(F) each got 1 seat for Non-Muslims.[16]

Elections for Speaker and Deputy Speaker

Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai of PML(N) and Ghazala Gola of PPP elected unopposed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Balochistan Assembly respectively.[17]

Elections for Chief Minister

Sarfraz Bugti of PPP elected as Chief Minister of Balochistan unopposed.[18]

See also

Notes

  1. https://elections.dunyanews.tv/election2024/election_result.php?assembly=blochistan
  2. Web site: Pakistan’s general election may be delayed by new census . 2023-08-06 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
  3. Web site: Sadozai . Irfan . 2023-08-17 . Election delay all but certain as ECP decides to go for fresh delimitation . 2023-08-17 . DAWN.COM . en.
  4. Web site: Sadozai . Irfan . Guramani . Nadir . Bhatti . Haseeb . Momand . Abdullah . 2023-11-02 . President, ECP agree on holding elections on Feb 8 . 2023-11-02 . DAWN.COM . en.
  5. Web site: Shah . Syed Ali . 2018-12-31 . 2018, a troubled year for Balochistan's politics . 2022-09-26 . DAWN.COM . en.
  6. Web site: Dawn.com . 2018-07-31 . BAP and PTI to form Balochistan government together . 2022-09-26 . DAWN.COM . en.
  7. Web site: Nihad . Ghalib . 2021-09-14 . Opposition submits no-confidence motion against Balochistan CM . 2022-09-26 . DAWN.COM . en.
  8. Web site: Nihad . Dawn com Ghalib . 2021-10-24 . Jam Kamal Khan steps down as Balochistan CM . 2022-09-26 . DAWN.COM . en.
  9. Web site: 2021-10-26 . Bizenjo emerges as candidate for CM's slot . 2022-09-26 . The Express Tribune . en.
  10. Web site: Zehri . Abdullah . 2023-08-12 . Balochistan Assembly dissolved as governor approves CM Bizenjo’s summary . 2023-08-12 . DAWN.COM . en.
  11. Web site: Bhatti . Haseeb . 2024-01-13 . PTI bat-tered, loses iconic electoral symbol as SC restores ECP order . 2024-01-13 . DAWN.COM . en.
  12. Web site: Sadozai . Irfan . 2023-12-15 . ECP issues election schedule for Feb 8 general polls . 2023-12-15 . DAWN.COM . en.
  13. Web site: General Elections 2024 - Balochistan Assembly . 2024-02-09 . www.elections.gov.pk . en-US.
  14. https://www.samaa.tv/208739935-3-independent-candidates-from-balochistan-join-ppp
  15. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457060/pml-n-now-leads-in-balochistan-with-12-seats
  16. Web site: Shafique . Amjad . 2024-02-23 . ECP declares winners of reserves seats for Balochistan Assembly . 2024-03-04 . en-US.
  17. Web site: Desk . BR Web . 2024-02-29 . KPK, Balochistan Assemblies elect speakers . 2024-03-04 . Brecorder . en.
  18. Web site: Shahid . Saleem . 2024-03-02 . Sarfraz Bugti becomes Balochistan CM ‘unopposed’ . 2024-03-04 . DAWN.COM . en.