2024 Balochistan provincial election

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.

2024 Balochistan provincial election

← 2018 8 February 2024 2025 →

51 out of 65 seats in the Balochistan Assembly[a]
33 seats needed for a majority
Registered5,371,947
Turnout42.9% (Decrease2.37%)[1]
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Sarfraz Bugti Jaffar Khan Mandokhail Maulana Abdul Wasey
Party PPP PML(N) JUI (F)
Leader since 18 December 2023 3 February 2023 -
Leader's seat Dera Bugti Zhob (lost) Killa Saifullah (lost)
Last election 3.09%, 0 seats 1.54%, 1 seat Did not contest[b]
Seats won 19 18 14
Seat change Increase 19 Increase 17 Increase 14
Popular vote 367,837 278,924 392,626
Percentage 15.98% 12.12% 17.06%
Swing Increase 12.89pp Increase 10.58pp n/a

Map of Balochistan with Provincial Assembly constituencies

Chief Minister before election

Abdul Quddus Bizenjo
BAP

Elected Chief Minister

Sarfraz Bugti
PPP

Background

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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

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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

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

Sr no Poll Event Schedule
1 Public Notice Issued by the Returning Officers 19 December 2023
2 Dates of filing Nomination papers with the Returning Officers by the candidates 20 December 2023 to 24 December 2023
3 Publication of names of the nominated candidates. 24 December 2023
4 Last date of scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer 25 December 2023 to 30 December 2023
5 Last date of filing appeals against decisions of the Returning Officer rejecting/accepting nomination papers. 3 January 2024
6 Last date for deciding of appeals by the Appellate Tribunal 10 January 2024
7 Publication of revised list of candidates 11 January 2024
8 Last date of withdrawal of candidate and publication of revised list of candidates 12 January 2024
9 Allotment of election symbol to contesting candidates 13 January 2024
10 Date of Polling and Counting of Votes 8 February 2024

Electoral system

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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

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Party Popular vote Seats
General Reserved Total +/−
Votes % ±pp Contested Won Independents Joined Total Women Non-Muslims
Pakistan Peoples Party 381,549 16.73 +13.64 48 11 4 15 3 1 19  19
Pakistan Muslim League (N) 297,063 13.03 +11.49 40 12 2 14 3 1 18  17
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) 399,825 17.53 N/A 46 9 0 9 2 1 12  1
Balochistan Awami Party 127,340 5.58 -18.86 29 4 0 4 1 0 5  19
National Party 135,589 5.95 +1.04 30 3 0 3 1 0 4  4
Awami National Party 92,609 4.06 +1.33 20 2 0 2 1 0 3  1
Balochistan National Party (Mengal) 109,641 4.81 -4.23 38 1 0 1 0 0 1  9
Balochistan National Party (Awami) 19,108 0.84 -2.95 19 1 0 1 0 0 1  2
Jamat-e-Islami 24,587 1.08 N/A 38 1 0 1 0 0 1  1
Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan 20,996 0.92 N/A 7 1 0 1 0 0 1  
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf[c] 72,030 3.16 -2.89 28 0 0 0 0 0 0  7
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party 132,721 5.82 -0.68 24 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Hazara Democratic Party 14,070 0.62 -0.08 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  2
Jamhoori Wattan Party 26,300 1.15 -0.41 4 0 0 0 0 0 0  1
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan 19,403 0.85 +0.26 21 0 0 0 0 0 0  
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party 407,698 17.88 6  6 0 0 0 0  
Others 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2,280,529 100% 51 11 3 65
Valid votes 2,280,529
Invalid votes
Votes cast/ turnout 42.87%
Abstentions
Registered voters 5,371,947
Source: Election Commission of Pakistan[13]

Division-wise results

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Division Total seats PPP PML(N) JUI(F) BAP NP ANP BNP(M) BNP(A) JI HDT
Zhob 6 1 3 2 - - - - - - -
Sibi 4 3 1 - - - - - - - -
Nasirabad 7 2 3 - 1 - - - - 1 -
Rakhshan 4 - 1 2 1 - - - - - -
Kalat 9 2 1 3 1 1 - 1 - - -
Makran 7 2 1 - - 2 - - 1 - 1
Quetta 14 6 3 2 1 - 2 - - - -
Total 51 16 13 9 4 3 2 1 1 1 1

District-wise results

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Division District Total seats PPP PML(N) JUI(F) BAP NP ANP BNP(M) BNP(A) JI HDT
Zhob Sherani 1 - - 1 - - - - - - -
Zhob 1 - - 1 - - - - - - -
Killa Saifullah 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Musakhail 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Barkhan
Loralai 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Duki 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Sibi Ziarat 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Harnai
Sibi 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Kohlu 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Dera Bugti 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Nasirabad Jhal Magsi 1 - - - 1 - - - - - -
Kachhi 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Nasirabad 2 1 1 - - - - - - - -
Sohbatpur 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Jaffarabad 1 - - - - - - - - 1 -
Usta Muhammad 1 1 - - - - - - - - -
Kalat Khuzdar 3 1 - 1 - - - 1 - -
Hub 1 1 - - - - - - - -
Lasbela 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Awaran 1 - - - - 1 - - - - -
Makran Gwadar 1 - - - - - - - - - 1
Kech 4 2 1 - - 1 - - - - -
Panjgur 2 - - - - 1 - - 1 - -
Rakhshan Washuk 1 - - 1 - - - - - - -
Chagai 1 - - - 1 - - - - - -
Kharan 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Nushki 1 - - 1 - - - - - - -
Kalat Surab 1 - - 1 - - - - - - -
Kalat 1 - - - 1 - - - - - -
Mastung 1 - - 1 - - - - - - -
Quetta Quetta 9 5 2 - 1 - 1 - - - -
Pishin 3 1 - 2 - - - - - - -
Killa Abdullah 1 - - - - - 1 - - - -
Chaman 1 - 1 - - - - - - - -
Total 51 16 13 9 4 3 2 1 1 1 1

Constituency-wise results

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District Constituency Winner Runner Up Margin Turnout
%
No. Name Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
Sherani PB-1 Sherani-Cum-Zhob Nawaz Kibzai JUI(F) 14,183 37.71 Shan Zaman IND 8,562 22.77 5,621 38.83
Zhob PB-2 Zhob Fazal Qadir Mandokhail JUI(F) 11,453 34.21 Mitha Khan Kakar IND 9,115 27.22 2,338 37.55
Killa Saifullah PB-3 Killa Saifullah Noor Ullah IND 24,408 37.51 Abdul Wasey JUI(F) 20,661 31.76 3,747 54.24
Musakhel-Barkhan PB-4 Musakhel-cum-Barkhan Sardar Abdul Rehman Kethran PML(N) 24,172 31.40 Abdul Karim NP 19,012 24.70 5,160 51.59
Loralai PB-5 Loralai Muhammad Khan Toor Utmankhel PML(N) 14,424 26.99 Molvi Faiz Ullah JUI(F) 12,456 22.31 1,968 46.47
Duki PB-6 Duki Sardar Masood Ali Khan Luni PML(N) 10,377 21.54 Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan Nasir IND 9,804 20.35 573 76.52
Ziarat-Harnai PB-7 Ziarat cum Harnai Noor Muhammad Dummar PML(N) 29,857 39.24 Khalil Ur Rehman JUI(F) 25,973 34.14 3,884 62.15
Sibi PB-8 Sibi Sardar Sarfraz Chakar Domki PPP 27,677 51.22 Mir Muhammad Asghar khan Marri IND 23,769 43.99 3,908 47.39
Kohlu PB-9 Kohlu Mir Naseeb Ullah Khan PPP 5,888 33.09 Gazreen Khan Marri IND 3,351 18.83 2,537 25.36
Dera Bugti PB-10 Dera Bugti Sarfraz Bugti PPP 52,485 64.96 Gohram Bugti JWP 25,773 31.90 26,712 60.54
Jhal Magsi PB-11 Jhal Magsi Nawabzada Tariq Magsi BAP 44,556 90.32 Mir Murtaza Abbas BNP(M) 1,244 2.53 43,312 67.96
Kachhi PB-12 Kachhi Mir Muhammad Asim Kurd PML(N) 22,557 42.82 Yar Muhammad Rind IND 17,869 33.92 4,688 38.32
Nasirabad PB-13 Nasirabad-I Mir Muhammad Sadiq Imrani PPP 14,856 33.46 Mir Sikandar Ali IND 9,505 21.41 5,351 36.07
PB-14 Nasirabad-II Muhammad Khan Lehri PML(N) 22,639 51.79 Ghulam Rasool PPP 18,948 43.35 3,691 45.09
Sohbatpur PB-15 Sohbatpur Saleem Ahmed PML(N) 24,619 53.36 Muhammad Doran PPP 15,997 34.67 8,622 42.35
Jafarabad PB-16 Jafarabad Abdul Majeed Badini JI 15,248 33.24 Rahat Jamali PML(N) 14,131 30.81 1,117 36.28
Usta Muhammad PB-17 Usta Muhammad Faisal Khan Jamali PPP 28,333 58.76 Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali BAP 13,977 28.99 14,356 36.25
Khuzdar PB-18 Khuzdar-I Sana Ullah Zehri PPP 20,014 52.38 Ghulam Sarwar JUI(F) 13,791 36.09 6,223 50.02
PB-19 Khuzdar-II Mir Younis Aziz Zehri JUI(F) 19,137 35.70 Shakeel Ahmed Durrani PPP 15,206 28.37 3,931 44.23
PB-20 Khuzdar-III Akhtar Mengal BNP(M) 28,097 62.25 Mir Shafique Ur Rehman Mengal IND 9,243 20.48 18,854 51.21
Hub PB-21 Hub Ali Hassan Zehri PPP 23,974 34.09 Rajab Ali Rind NP 17,441 24.80 6,533 62.67
Lasbela PB-22 Lasbela Jam Kamal Khan PML(N) 38,562 49.46 Muhammad Hassan PPP 18,373 23.57 20,189 60.08
Awaran PB-23 Awaran Khair Jan NP 15,635 57.07 Abdul Qaddus Bizenjo PPP 9,233 33.70 6,402 31.80
Gwadar PB-24 Gwadar Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch HDT 20,925 41.63 Mir Hamal BNP(M) 16,522 32.87 4,403 37.97
Kech PB-25 Kech-I Zahoor Ahmed Baledi PPP 9,099 61.49 Jan Muhammad NP 4,895 33.08 4,204 22.11
PB-26 Kech-II Abdul Malik Baloch NP 14,004 56.07 Syed Ehsan Shah BNP(M) 9,608 38.47 4,396 31.62
PB-27 Kech-III Barkat Ali Rind PML(N) 15,552 59.67 Jamil Ahmed Dashti IND 4,622 17.73 10,930 45.36
PB-28 Kech-IV Mir Asghar Rind PPP 7,090 50.15 Mir Hamal Khan NP 4,366 19.27 2,724 24.38
Panjgur PB-29 Panjgur-I Mir Asadullah Baloch BNP(A) 7,263 46.88 Haji Muhammad Islam NP 4,547 29.35 2,716 28.73
PB-30 Panjgur-II Rahmat Saleh Baloch NP 9,690 49.43 Shakeel Ahmed BNP(A) 8,349 42.59 1,341 30.32
Washuk PB-31 Washuk Mir Zabid Ali Reki JUI(F) 17,058 50.02 Mir Mujib Ur Rehman Muhammad Hasani PML(N) 16,008 46.94 1,050 53.65
Chagai PB-32 Chagai Sadiq Sanjrani BAP 19,901 39.38 Aman Ullah JUI(F) 17,178 33.99 2,723 43.69
Kharan PB-33 Kharan Mir Shoaib Nosherwani PML(N) 11,207 32.43 Sana Ullah Baloch BNP(M) 9,050 26.19 2,157 52.46
Nushki PB-34 Nushki Mir Ghulam Dastgir Badeni JUI(F) 16,771 38.44 Muhammad Raheem BNP(M) 15,014 34.41 1,757 41.79
Surab PB-35 Surab Mir Zafar Khan Ullah Zehri JUI(F) 16,579 55.69 Mir Naimat Ullah Zehri PPP 11,113 37.33 5,466 50.79
Kalat PB-36 Kalat Mir Ziaullah Langau BAP 14,848 35.08 Mir Saeed Ahmed Langove JUI(F) 11,025 26.05 3,823 41.92
Mastung PB-37 Mastung Aslam Raisani JUI(F) 13,668 32.47 Sardar Noor Muhammad Bangalzai PPP 11,426 27.15 2,242 32.97
Quetta PB-38 Quetta-I Malik Naeem Khan Bazai ANP 7,792 31.15 Ainullah Shams JUI(F) 6,280 25.10 1,512 32.27
PB-39 Quetta-II Bakht Muhammad Kakar IND 6,618 20.36 Syed Abdul Wahid JUI(F) 5,878 18.08 740 34.47
PB-40 Quetta-III Samad Khan Gorgage PPP 9,225 31.48 Qadir Ali HDP 5,588 19.07 3,637 39.05
PB-41 Quetta-IV Wali Muhammad Noorzai IND 9,318 24.98 Abdul Gaffar Kakar PTI-IND[d] 7,270 19.49 2,048 30.79
PB-42 Quetta-V Sheikh Zarak Khan Mandokhail PML(N) 10,423 24.02 Abdul Khaliq HDP 8,520 19.64 1,903 31.03
PB-43 Quetta-VI Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri IND 7,277 17.22 Sardar Doda Khan PTI-IND[d] 5,190 12.28 2,087 30.42
PB-44 Quetta-VII Mir Ubaidullah Gorgage PPP 7,125 25.83 Mir Attaullah Bangalzai NP 6,385 23.15 740 31.97
PB-45 Quetta-VIII Ali Madad Jattak PPP 5,671 33.56 Mir Muhammad Usman Parkani JUI(F) 4,346 25.72 1,325 33.63
PB-46 Quetta-IX Prince Ahmed Omar Ahmedzai BAP 4,638 27.28 Sardar Ahmed Khan Shahwani JUI(F) 1,752 10.30 2,886 23.04
Pishin PB-47 Pishin-I Asfand Yar Kakar IND 21,714 42.51 Kamal Ud Din JUI(F) 18,989 37.17 2,725 51.64
PB-48 Pishin-II Asghar Ali Tareen JUI(F) 17,944 42.86 Sardar Amjad Khan PKMAP 15,013 35.86 2,931 43.04
PB-49 Pishin-II Syed Zafar Ali Agha JUI(F) 13,811 33.49 Agha Syed Liaquat Ali PKMAP 12,778 30.99 1,033 39.00
Killa Abdullah PB-50 Killa Abdullah Zamrak Khan ANP 44,712 33.47 Muhammad Nawaz JUI(F) 43,445 32.52 1,267 81.99
Chaman PB-51 Chaman Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai IND 20,390 26.00 Asghar Khan ANP 19,623 25.03 767 40.41

Members elected on Reserved seats

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Reserved Seats Party Member
For Women Pakistan Peoples Party Ghazala Gola
Meena
Shahnaz Umrani
Pakistan Muslim League (N) Rahila Durrani
Hadia Nawaz
Rubaba Khan
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Shahida Rauf
Safia
Balochistan Awami Party Farah Azeem Shah
National Party Ume Kalsoom
Awami National Party Salma Bibi
For Non-Muslims Pakistan Peoples Party Sanjay Kumar
Pakistan Muslim League (N) Patrick Sant Masih
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Ravi Pahuja

Aftermath

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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

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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

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

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 11 seats are reserved for Women and 3 are reserved for Non-Muslims filled through Proportional representation
  2. ^ JUI (F) did not contest the 2018 elections, as they were part of an electoral alliance called Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
  3. ^ Running as Independent candidates
  4. ^ a b Received PTI ticket but ran as Independent because of SC ruling

References

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  1. ^ https://fafen.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/FAFEN_GE-2024_Turnout_Analysis_Final.pdf
  2. ^ "Pakistan's general election may be delayed by new census". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  3. ^ Sadozai, Irfan (2023-08-17). "Election delay all but certain as ECP decides to go for fresh delimitation". Dawn. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  4. ^ Sadozai, Irfan; Guramani, Nadir; Bhatti, Haseeb; Momand, Abdullah (2023-11-02). "President, ECP agree on holding elections on Feb 8". Dawn. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  5. ^ Shah, Syed Ali (2018-12-31). "2018, a troubled year for Balochistan's politics". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  6. ^ "BAP and PTI to form Balochistan government together". Dawn. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  7. ^ Nihad, Ghalib (2021-09-14). "Opposition submits no-confidence motion against Balochistan CM". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  8. ^ Nihad, Ghalib (2021-10-24). "Jam Kamal Khan steps down as Balochistan CM". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  9. ^ "Bizenjo emerges as candidate for CM's slot". The Express Tribune. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  10. ^ Zehri, Abdullah (2023-08-12). "Balochistan Assembly dissolved as governor approves CM Bizenjo's summary". Dawn. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  11. ^ Bhatti, Haseeb (2024-01-13). "PTI bat-tered, loses iconic electoral symbol as SC restores ECP order". Dawn. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  12. ^ Sadozai, Irfan (2023-12-15). "ECP issues election schedule for Feb 8 general polls". Dawn. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  13. ^ "General Elections 2024 - Balochistan Assembly". www.elections.gov.pk. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  14. ^ "3 independent candidates from Balochistan join PPP". www.samaa.tv. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "PML-N now leads in Balochistan with 12 seats". The Express Tribune. February 20, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Shafique, Amjad (2024-02-23). "ECP declares winners of reserves seats for Balochistan Assembly". Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  17. ^ "KPK, Balochistan Assemblies elect speakers". Business Recorder. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  18. ^ Shahid, Saleem (2024-03-02). "Sarfraz Bugti becomes Balochistan CM 'unopposed'". Dawn. Retrieved 2024-03-04.