PPPP, PML-N get more votes than PML-QA, MMA

The post election figures released by the Election Commission, after the count of all votes across the country, show that the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) got more votes than the PML-Quaid-e-Azam and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) respectively.

According to the figures, out of 70 million registered voters, 30 million voters cast their votes across the country.

Out of these 30 million voters, the PPPP got 7.39 million votes against the PML-QA's 7.33 million votes. This means the PPPP in fact obtained the highest number of votes.

Similarly, the PML-N got 3.32 million votes against 3.29 million polled for the MMA. These figures provide an interesting picture of the performance of many major political groups, especially since the PML-QA and MMA got more parliamentary seats as compared to more votes cast in favour of the PPPP and PML-N.

The PML-QA has emerged as the single largest party with 77 seats. This is a common feature in Pakistan's first past the post balloting system, and the system has its critics as well as its fans.

The PPPP, despite polling the largest number of votes, and staying ahead narrowly of the PML-QA on this count, won only 62 seats. The PML-QA received 7.33 million votes or 24.81 per cent of the votes polled. The PPP, however, had 7.39 million votes or 25.01 per cent of the total votes polled.

The situation of the MMA is even more interesting. The alliance surprised many observers by winning 52 seats, including those of the seven independents from the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, who were elected with the MMA's backing.

The Election Commission has announced that the results of three seats have been withheld, due to irregularities or complications, and these are not included in the calculations, which depict an interesting picture in terms of party popularity.

The PPPP's comeback, after its 1997 debacle, has been truly remarkable, and indeed the party won the most support from people out of all the groups.