Next Pakistani general election

Next Pakistani general election
← 2024
By 28 February 2029
All 336 seats in the National Assembly
169 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
 
Leader Shehbaz Sharif Gohar Ali Khan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Party PML(N) PTI PPP
Last election 108 seats 94 seats 45 seats
Seats needed Increase 61 Increase 75 Increase 96
National Assembly constituencies
Incumbent Prime Minister

Shehbaz Sharif
PML(N)


General elections are expected to be held in Pakistan by 28 February 2029. If the National Assembly is upcoming early, elections must be held in Pakistan.

Background

The 2024 Pakistani general election in Pakistan took place on 8 February 2024. During these elections, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML(N)) secured 108 seats, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) secured 81 seats, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) secured 68 seats. This equation occurred after independents had joined various political parties and reserved seats had been allocated. On Election Day, independents won a total of 103 seats, with 93 unofficially backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, PTI candidates were unable to contest under the party banner due to the Election Commission of Pakistan's ruling that PTI had failed to conduct intra-party elections in accordance with the party's constitution. Subsequently, 81 members supported by PTI joined SIC after the election.

On 3 March 2024, the election for the position of prime minister occurred. Shehbaz Sharif, representing PML(N), was re-elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan for the second time, securing 201 votes compared to the 92 votes received by Omar Ayub, a PTI candidate. As no single party in the assembly had a clear majority of 169 members, Sharif won with the combined support of PML (N) allies, major of them being the PPP. Khan had backing from SIC members.

On 3 March 2024, Gohar Ali Khan was elected unopposed as the chairman of PTI, and took on the leadership role in accordance with the party's constitution. On 2 April 2024, Omar Ayub Khan was designated as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan.

By-elections for a combined total of 22 seats across the National Assembly of Pakistan and three provincial assemblies (Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) took place on 21 April 2024. PML(N) secured the most seats with 12 wins, while PPP, SIC, and independent candidates each garnered 2 seats. Additionally, PML(Q), ANP, BNP(M), and IPP each claimed one victory.

After the disqualification of 12 PTI-affiliated members and a resignation of one PPP member, by-elections were held on 23 November 2025 for 13 seats across the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. PML(N) again secured the most seats, gaining the 12 vacated seats from PTI, while PPP was able to hold its one seat.

On 11 October 2026, a state of emergency was declared in PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari under Article 232 of the Constitution of Pakistan. A Governor's rule was also imposed under Article 234 of the Constitution. The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Kundi assumed all the functions of the provincial government and the federal government appointed an 11-member technocratic Advisory Council to assist him in that regard.

References

  1. ↑ "Parliamentary elections". IPU.
  2. ↑ "PML-N becomes largest party in National Assembly with 108 MNAs". Frontier Post. 24 February 2024. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  3. ↑ "Shehbaz Sharif returns as prime minister for second time". The News International. 3 March 2024. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Dawood Kakar elected as PTI Balochistan president". ARY. 3 March 2024. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "PTI Constitution". Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Ex-PM Khan's aide, Omar Ayub, appointed as opposition leader in Pakistan's National Assembly". Arab News. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "By-Elections 2024 Result Dashboard". Dunya News. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "Pakistanis vote across 13 constituencies in national, provincial by-elections today". Arab News. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  9. ↑ "Ruling party sweeps Pakistan by-elections, as per unofficial results". Arab News. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-24.
  10. ↑ Raza, Syed Irfan (11 October 2026). "Emergency, governor's rule imposed in KP as president approves cabinet decision". Dawn.
  11. ↑ "Imran Khan's party's provincial government suspended by Pakistan president". Reuters. 11 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "Pakistan: Khan stronghold province put under emergency rule". dw.com. 11 October 2026.
  13. ↑ "Pakistan President declares emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provincial government ceases to exist". The Hindu. PTI. 11 October 2026.
  14. ↑ "Who are the members of the newly formed KP Advisory Council?". Dawn. 2026-10-11. Retrieved 2026-10-14.