In general elections 2024, several women candidates have made notable strides, with eight candidates each securing over 0.1 million votes. Aniqa Mehdi emerged as the frontrunner, clinching the highest number of votes, surpassing 0.2 million. Notably, Aniqa is among the twelve women who secured victories on National Assembly’s general seats during the February 8 elections.
In a striking development, independent candidate Jamal Ahsan Khan garnered the highest number of votes among male candidates, securing 217,427 votes on NA-89 in Mianwali.
Aniqa, contesting independently for NA-67 in Hafizabad, secured an impressive 211,039 votes. Notably, her closest competitor, Saira Tarar of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, also amassed a healthy tally of 183,946 votes. Of interest, both the winner and the runner-up in this constituency were female candidates, a unique occurrence compared to other constituencies where females triumphed over their male rivals.
Another significant victory came from Sanghar’s NA-209 constituency, where Shazia Marri defeated her male opponent Muhammad Khan Junejo of the Grand Democratic Alliance. Marri secured 156,002 votes against Junejo’s 139,604.
Similarly, in NA-73, Daska, PML-N’s Nosheen Iftikhar and independent candidate Ali Asjad Malhi each garnered over 0.1 million votes, securing 112,143 and 104,067 votes, respectively.
In NA-158, Vehari, winner Tehmina Daultana of PML-N secured 111,196 votes, while independent candidate Tahir Iqbal garnered 103,052 votes. The voter turnout in this constituency was recorded at 54.41%.
These victories underscore the growing influence and representation of women in Pakistan’s political landscape, with significant contributions across various constituencies.
