Lesson 2/23 min
The 1970 election
Under Yahya Khan's martial law, Pakistan held its first general election in 1970. Polling in East Pakistan was due in October but was put back to December because of floods.
The results
| Assembly | Polling date | Total seats | Awami League |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Assembly | 7 December 1970 | 313 (300 + 13 reserved) | 167 (160 + 7) |
| East Pakistan Provincial Assembly | 17 December 1970 | 310 (300 + 10 reserved) | 298 (288 + 10) |
- East Pakistan had 169 seats in the National Assembly; the Awami League won 167 of them
- The Awami League won no seat in West Pakistan
- Its main rival was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
- Despite its majority the Awami League was not handed power; this is where the road to 1971 begins
Memory trick: If the question says ‘general seats’ the answer is 160 or 288; if it says ‘total seats’, 167 or 298.
Check yourself
How many seats in total did the Awami League win in the 1970 provincial election?
At a glance
- 1
Pakistan held its first general election in 1970: the National Assembly vote on 7 December, the provincial vote on 17 December.
- 2
The Awami League won 167 of the 313 National Assembly seats (160 + 7 reserved).
- 3
It won 298 of the 310 provincial seats (288 + 10 reserved).
- 4
The Awami League won no seat in West Pakistan.