Pakistan
Pakistan Elections 2024: Rigging vs Resistance, Mafia vs Mandate
Pakistan elections 2024 were marred by irregularities, but the massive voter turnout swamped the efforts of rigging. This article will cover the many cases of rigging, which we will keep updating as more cases come to light.
Pakistan General Elections 2024 were neither free nor fair. The entire election process was marred by irregularities and injustice, and the attempts to push the largest political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), out of contention were blatantly executed. The party’s chairman, former prime minister, Imran Khan, was disqualified and jailed over bogus charges. The party faced a state-backed crackdown, including abductions and “forced divorces.” Leaders and workers were either jailed or forced to go underground. The party’s workers were picked up and tortured, and its electoral symbol was denied through a contentious verdict, forcing the party’s backed candidates to run as independents with individual symbols. Moreover, multiple electoral nominees backed by PTI saw their candidatures rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan, and those who were able to participate were not allowed to campaign.
This is the background in which Pakistan Elections 2024 took place, and yet, this was not all that was done to jeoperdize the electoral process. Other tactics to subvert the process and the will of the people were employed on election day:
- Internet and mobile phone services were shut down across the country
- Various polling stations did not open on time
- Polling agents of specific political parties were not allowed inside some polling stations
- The polling process was slowed down deliberately, with long queues observed near the end-time
- Election results were withheld and delayed
- RO offices where tabulation was underway sealed by police and rangers, and the candidates not allowed in
- Major discrepancies in results between Forms 45 (the tally of votes from all polling stations) and Form 47 (the consolidated result, formed by adding up the counts from Form 45)
Despite everything done to make Pakistan Elections 2024 controversial and ineffective, Imran Khan and PTI-backed independent candidates defied the odds and thrived in the elections. In the turbulent 24 hours following Pakistan’s elections, the U.S.-backed military was unable to suppress PTI, and the massive turnout swamped the military’s efforts to rig the elections.
Results from polling stations indicated a landslide victory for PTI-backed candidates, with Nawaz Sharif’s politics, even in its former stronghold of Punjab, facing decimation. The people of Pakistan entrusted a 2/3rd majority to Imran Khan in the National, Punjab, and KP assemblies, along with landslide victories in Islamabad and Karachi, as confirmed by Form 45s.
Unfortunately, even though the public’s decision was quite evident, the military decided to intervene and manipulate the election results. Ongoing efforts involve threatening and forcing the Returning Officers (RO) nationwide to declare incorrect results.
These actions are so glaring that they have garnered significant attention, making it increasingly challenging for the military to sustain such practices. Grave concerns have been raised by international media and state departments about stifling the democratic voice of the people of Pakistan, and it appears that the military will inevitably have to yield the power to its true custodians – the people of Pakistan.
This article will collect the cases of election day and post-poll rigging cases from Pakistan General Elections 2024. (we will keep on updating this list as more and more cases come to light).
Note, throughout the examples, “PTI” refers to a PTI-backed candidate, who had to run as an independent after the SC’s controversial judgment in the Bat case.
On-going analysis of Form-45 and Form-47 of constituencies where the result has been falsely declared
NA-28: Peshawar
76% result
- PTI: 52,796
- Noor Alam Khan: 32,976
100% result
- PTI: 65,119
- Noor Alam Khan: 138,389
NA-46: Islamabad
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 85,793
- Second-placed candidate: 42,043
- PTI win margin: 43,745
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 44,317
- Second-placed candidate: 81,958
NA-47: Islamabad
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 101,596
- Second-placed candidate: 49,678
- PTI win margin: 51,918
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 86,794
- Second-placed candidate: 101,397
NA-48: Islamabad
Result as per Form 45 (98% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 74,425
- Second-placed candidate: 30,345
- PTI win margin: 44,080
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 59,851
- Second-placed candidate: 69,699
NA-49: Attock
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 137,804
- Second-placed candidate: 74,478
- PTI win margin: 63,326
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 110,230
- Second-placed candidate: 119,727
NA-50: Attock
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 117,571
- Second-placed candidate: 93,815
- PTI win margin: 23,696
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 109,189
- Second-placed candidate: 119,075
NA-53: Rawalpindi
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 79,204
- Second-placed candidate: 45,154
- PTI win margin: 39,050
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 58,476
- Second-placed candidate: 72,006
NA-54: Rawalpindi
Result as per Form 45 (92% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 96,488
- Second-placed candidate: 42,845
- PTI win margin: 53,643
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 73,694
- Second-placed candidate: 85,912
NA-55: Rawalpindi
Result as per Form 45 (74% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 80,418
- Second-placed candidate: 38,697
- PTI win margin: 41,721
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 96,787
- Second-placed candidate: 112,343
NA-56: Rawalpindi
Result as per Form 45 (92% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 101,525
- Second-placed candidate: 62,708
- PTI win margin: 38,817
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 82,613
- Second-placed candidate: 96,649
NA-57: Rawalpindi
Result as per Form 45 (99% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 101,622
- Second-placed candidate: 50,149
- PTI win margin: 51,473
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 56,789
- Second-placed candidate: 83,331
NA-58: Chakwal
Result as per Form 45
- PTI-backed candidate: 155,070
- Second-placed candidate: 129,312
- PTI win margin: 25,758
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 102,537
- Second-placed candidate: 115,974
NA-60: Jhelum
Result as per Form 45 (92% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 105,283
- Second-placed candidate: 62,135
- PTI win margin: 43,148
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 90,474
- Second-placed candidate: 99,948
NA-64: Gujrat
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI’s Qaisra Elahi: 151,373
- PMLQ’s Salik Hussain: 28,204
- PTI win margin: 123,171
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI candidate’s votes: 90,946
- Opposing candidate’s votes: 105,205
Ballot papers were also burnt, which as per evidence were cast for PTI’s Qaisra Elahi
NA-71: Sialkot
Result as per Form 45 (67% polling stations)
- PTI’s Rehana Dar: 88,278
- Opposing candidate: 57,360
- PTI win margin: 30,918
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 100,482
- Second-placed candidate: 119,001
NA-87: Khushab
Result as per Form 45 (93% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 123,759
- Second-placed candidate: 83,376
- PTI win margin: 40,383
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 108,308
- Second-placed candidate: 117,773
NA-106: Toba Tek Singh
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 138,409
- Second-placed candidate: 132,673
- PTI win margin: 5,736
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 136,924
- Second-placed candidate: 137,629
NA-126: Lahore
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 72,782
- Second-placed candidate: 39,608
- PTI win margin: 33,174
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 60,479
Second-placed candidate: 67,117
NA-128: Lahore
Result as per Form 45 (91% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 142,727
- Second-placed candidate: 59,900
- PTI win margin: 82,827
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 159,024
- Second-placed candidate: 172,576
NA-130: Lahore
Result as per Form 45 (91% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 101,933
- Second-placed candidate: 80,895
- PTI win margin: 21,038
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 104,485
- Second-placed candidate: 179,310
NA-139: Pakpattan
Result as per Form 45
- PTI-backed candidate: 126,743
- Second-placed candidate: 112,140
- PTI win margin: 14,603
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 116,493
- Second-placed candidate: 121,383
NA-148: Multan
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 75,422
- Second-placed candidate: 68,956
- PTI win margin: 6,466
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 67,033
- Second-placed candidate: 67,326
NA-151: Multan
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 83,760
- Second-placed candidate: 78,099
- PTI win margin: 5,661
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 71,649
- Second-placed candidate: 79,080
NA-163: Bahawalnagar
Result as per Form 45 (99% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 96,710
- Second-placed candidate: 58,822
- PTI win margin: 37,888
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 75,115
- Second-placed candidate: 84,312
NA-164: Bahawalnagar
Result as per Form 45 (99% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 122,378
- Second-placed candidate: 103,797
- PTI win margin: 18,581
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 117,140
- Second-placed candidate: 123,360
NA-168: Bahawalpur
Result as per Form 45 (83% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 86,248
- Second-placed candidate: 52,249
- PTI win margin: 33,999
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 52,270
- Second-placed candidate: 124,529
NA184: DG Khan
PTI candidate’s opponent, Javed Akhtar Lound, accepts that PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khalol has won the seat by a lead of 50,000+ on NA184, and PTI Sardar Farhat Abbas won with a lead of 15,000+ on PP286 but the results have been blatantly manipulated to deprive PTI of this victory.
NA-219: Hyderabad
Result as per Form 45 (82% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 52,999
- Second-placed candidate: 18,276
- PTI win margin: 34,723
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 38,315
- Second-placed candidate: 55,050
NA-220: Hyderabad
Result as per Form 45 (64% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 34,756
- Second-placed candidate: 24,252
- PTI win margin: 10,504
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 52,025
- Second-placed candidate: 64,531
NA-232: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (96% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 74,469
- Second-placed candidate: 18,479
- PTI win margin: 55,990
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 66,753
- Second-placed candidate: 84,592
NA-233: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (90% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 61,801
- Second-placed candidate: 15,779
- PTI win margin: 46,022
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 58,753
- Second-placed candidate: 103,967
NA-234: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (87% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 55,227
- Second-placed candidate: 9,907
- PTI win margin: 45,320
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 43,744
- Second-placed candidate: 73,687
NA-235: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (99% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 21,788
- Second-placed candidate: 2,464
- PTI win margin: 19,324
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 14,167
- Second-placed candidate: 20,187
NA-236: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (91% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 103,639
- Second-placed candidate: 7,481
- PTI win margin: 96,158
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 1,154
- Second-placed candidate: 38,871
NA-237: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (86% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 43,915
- Second-placed candidate: 21,457
- PTI win margin: 22,458
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 33,321
- Second-placed candidate: 40,836
NA-238: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (90% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 77,841
- Second-placed candidate: 30,983
- PTI win margin: 46,858
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 36,875
- Second-placed candidate: 54,884
NA-239: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (99% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 41,066
- Second-placed candidate: 35,252
- PTI win margin: 5,814
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 37,234
- Second-placed candidate: 40,077
NA-240: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (90% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 42,435
- Second-placed candidate: 10,706
- PTI win margin: 31,729
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 27,318
- Second-placed candidate: 30,573
NA-241: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (94% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 78,044
- Second-placed candidate: 20,558
- PTI win margin: 57,486
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 48,610
- Second-placed candidate: 52,456
NA-242: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (96% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 52,957
- Second-placed candidate: 22,932
- PTI win margin: 30,025
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 53,759
- Second-placed candidate: 71,767
NA-243: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (98% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 50,295
- Second-placed candidate: 46,049
- PTI win margin: 4,246
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 48,690
- Second-placed candidate: 60,266
NA-244: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (98% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 19,497
- Second-placed candidate: 7,445
- PTI win margin: 12,052
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 14,073
- Second-placed candidate: 20,048
NA-245: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (92% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 38,519
- Second-placed candidate: 11,522
- PTI win margin: 26,997
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 36,788
- Second-placed candidate: 57,356
NA-246: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (91% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 52,114
- Second-placed candidate: 28,136
- PTI win margin: 23,978
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 29,528
- Second-placed candidate: 74,672
NA-247: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (93% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 50,749
- Second-placed candidate: 21,646
- PTI win margin: 29,103
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 52,058
- Second-placed candidate: 65,050
NA-248: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 68,444
- Second-placed candidate: 15,271
- PTI win margin: 53,173
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 86,342
- Second-placed candidate: 103,082
NA-249: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (84% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 53,044
- Second-placed candidate: 21,829
- PTI win margin: 31,215
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 51,152
- Second-placed candidate: 77,529
NA-250: Karachi
Result as per Form 45 (100% polling stations)
- PTI-backed candidate: 65,304
- Second-placed candidate: 8,799
- PTI win margin: 56,505
Result consolidated by ECP on Form 47
- PTI-backed candidate: 37,629
- Second-placed candidate: 79,925
Other instances of election rigging, manipulation and irregularities during the Pakistan Elections 2024
Rawalpindi Division
On February 11, 2024, the commissioner of Rawalpindi, who was also appointed as the District Returning Officer for the Rawalpindi division confessed that he helped rig Pakistan’s elections on the 13 National Assembly seats in Rawalpindi division.
“We converted the losers into winners, reversing margins of 70,000 votes in 13 national assembly seats,” he told reporters, also implicating the head of the election commission and the country’s top judge.
The commissioner admitted he was “deeply involved in serious crime like mega election rigging 2024” and said that “stabbing the country in its back” does not allow him to sleep.
“I should be punished for the injustice I have done and others who were involved in this injustice should also be punished,” he added.
NA127: Lahore
PTI candidate Zaheer Khokhar was on the ballot paper but was missing from Form 45 – on which each polling station is results are compiled.
NA-128: Lahore
- Aun Chaudhry and his 3 dozen goons attacked the RO Office. PTI volunteer Sameer Khosa was badly injured. After realising that he is losing by a huge margin, the goons disturb the counting process. Salman Akram Raja was evicted from the RO Office. The ballot boxes and Form 45 were at the mercy of unknown persons. SP Irtiza says he doesn’t believe in any law and evicted the PTI candidate during the counting process. Meanwhile, the police allowed the goons to enter the RO Office and beat everyone.
- Instead of arresting these goons and their leader, the police deprived the PTI candidate of his legal right to be present during the consolidation process.
NA 130: Lahore
More valid votes than total votes cast
Total votes cast: 293,693
Valid votes counted: 294,043
NA-158: Vehari
The RO swapped the name of PTI’s candidate with PMLN’s candidate to make the PMLN candidate win
NA-242: Karachi
Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Pakistan People’s Party’s candidate for the NA-242 constituency of Karachi barged into a polling station with his gang
PS110: Karachi
Jibran Nasir, candidate PS110, and PTI’s opponent on the seat, shares that as per Form 45 received so far from 42 polling stations out of a total of 159 stations, PTI was leading, JI was second and he was third. However, the results of the remaining polling stations were being delayed & denied, using tactics such as not counting or Polling Staff making ridiculous excuses that they didn’t have a hard copy of Form 45 to fill and give to polling agents.
Peshawar
In Peshawar in Qayyum Stadium where ROs for NA-31 and NA-33 are sitting Elections Agents or Candidates are not allowed to enter.
Lodhran
DPO Lodhran is pushing and punching the PTI agent out.
