By Amjad Qaimkhani
The fundamental pillar of any functioning democracy is the principle of “One Person, One Vote.” It is a simple yet powerful idea: every citizen’s ballot should carry equal weight in shaping the future of the state. The fairness of elections, the legitimacy of governments, and the trust of citizens all hinge on this ideal. Yet in Sindh, a province whose urban centers hum with economic activity and rural heartlands sustain centuries-old traditions, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The current delimitation of constituencies and the uneven distribution of voters suggest that the promise of equal representation is slipping further from reach.
Sindh’s electoral landscape is sharply divided between urban and rural areas. Approximately 27 million registered voters inhabit the province, with roughly 45 to 48 per cent living in urban centers such as Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur, while 52 to 55 per cent reside in rural regions. On paper, these numbers appear reasonably balanced. However, the discrepancy becomes stark when one examines the “voter load” that each representative must shoulder.
In urban Sindh, particularly Karachi, the scale of underrepresentation is alarming. On average, a provincial seat in Karachi represents between 190,000 and 220,000 voters, with some densely populated areas surpassing 300,000. By contrast, a provincial seat in rural Sindh typically encompasses only 140,000 to 180,000 voters. This statistical imbalance means that a single vote in a village in upper Sindh carries significantly more political weight than a vote cast in a high-rise apartment in Karachi. Citizens in urban areas must mobilize nearly twice as many votes to influence the same level of parliamentary representation as their rural counterparts.
The consequences of this disparity are more than theoretical. They ripple through the quality of governance, resource allocation, and the broader democratic process. When an elected member represents a disproportionately large constituency, the capacity for meaningful engagement with constituents inevitably suffers. Urban residents face diluted representation; their concerns, from traffic congestion and public transport to water shortages and housing, risk being overshadowed by rural priorities. The voices of millions in Sindh’s cities are effectively compressed, while smaller constituencies in rural districts wield amplified legislative influence.
Resource allocation is another casualty of electoral imbalance. Development funds, infrastructure projects, and administrative attention are frequently tied to the number of seats held by a region. If urban centers have fewer seats relative to their actual populations, they face a structural disadvantage in securing their fair share of the provincial budget. Hospitals, schools, transport networks, and civic services in the province’s cities may therefore suffer, not because of mismanagement or neglect, but as a direct consequence of systemic underrepresentation.
Voter turnout compounds the issue. Rural Sindh has consistently recorded higher turnout rates than urban areas, reflecting both cultural norms and the relative accessibility of polling stations. When these higher participation rates are combined with smaller constituency sizes, rural voters enjoy a dominant voice in provincial elections. Consequently, urban citizens often feel marginalized, their economic contribution and demographic weight translating into disproportionately limited political influence.
The need for equitable representation is widely acknowledged. Residents of Karachi and other major cities have long demanded fair delimitation of constituencies in accordance with population size. The Election Act of 2017 explicitly mandates that variation in constituency populations should not exceed 10 per cent. Yet current maps reveal a far wider disparity, suggesting that political and administrative inertia continues to privilege rural vote banks at the expense of urban representation. This discrepancy erodes confidence in the democratic process and fuels frustration among city dwellers, who feel their participation carries insufficient weight.
Addressing this inequity is not merely a political necessity—it is a constitutional imperative. A vote cast in Karachi, Hyderabad, or Sukkur should carry the same weight as a vote in a rural village, reflecting the principle that democracy must treat all citizens equally. Transparent, accurate census data is a prerequisite, as is a commitment to equitable delimitation that genuinely reflects population realities. Without these measures, the ideal of “One Person, One Vote” will remain a distant aspiration for millions of urban voters, leaving the very legitimacy of Sindh’s democratic institutions in question.
For democracy to flourish, the state must act decisively. Citizens in high-rise apartments and sprawling urban settlements deserve representation that reflects their numbers and their contribution to the province. Equity in voting is not a concession to politics—it is a recognition of constitutional rights, a commitment to fairness, and a foundation for a healthier, more inclusive democracy. Without it, the slogan of “One Person, One Vote” risks being reduced to empty rhetoric, leaving millions in the cities feeling unheard, overlooked, and disenfranchised.
(The writer is a senior US-based Pakistani journalist who writes on political and social issues and can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com.)
