(23 Jul 2018) LEADIN
Pakistanis are going to the polls in national elections on July 25.
The political landscape is now been shaped by the rise of social media amongst politically engaged young people.
STORYLINE:
In Pakistan politics are changing.
Modern voters can access the views and policies on candidates via social media rather than attending rallies or watching or reading the mainstream media.
Atiya Abbas, 28, is an active social media user. She creates digital content for a local channel in Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city and commercial capital, with multiple seats that will be hotly contested.
"The candidates are putting their information on social media so that allows us to know what their platform is, what they stand for, what they believe in."
Abbas is part of the bulging youth population estimated to be more than 50% in this city of more than 20 million.
A digital native, Abbas regularly browses through videos posted on digital media to find out about the latest news events, including those not covered by traditional media.
"The candidates are putting their information on social media so that allows us to know what their platform is, what they stand for, what they believe in. And before that, it felt like they (politicians) were talking down to the people. So I know traditional rallies also play their part, but in social media, in isolation with the phone and headphones, you are able to process the information better. Because in rallies, there is too much noise or action. With social media, you can take things at your own pace and understand them in your own time" explains Abbas.
Omar R. Qureshi is a prominent journalist with a strong social media presence. He is working as a digital consultant with the Pakistan People's Party for the upcoming election. Like all major political parties in the country, PPP have an active media team.
"The mainstream media tends to pick up a lot of stories, clips and ideas from social media these days. Social media also has this thing you don't have to be a professional journalist or reporter to actually report on events. So I think it can and it will shape the election" he says.
With its ability to provide the amplifier effect, social media has worked massively in favor of candidates with limited resources, especially independents.
Candidates like lawyer Jibran Nasir, who is vying for both national and provincial assembly seats from Karachi constituencies.
He has previously relied on social media to highlight a variety of issues including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other issues.
Now, he is using the medium to campaign as he lacks the resources to compete with his rivals who belong to mainstream parties.
Nasir says that social media does not censor his views in the same way as mainstream media.
"I do not have to suffer the censorship, which I usually do, because I am very blunt; and very vocal about certain stances, which mainstream media unfortunately shies away from. The freedom of the press in Pakistan is not exemplary and we all know that."
The consistency and tone of his social media posts has earned him a following among younger voters.
Asad-ur-Rehman, 19, has been following Jibran on social media for several years.
"The ideology of Jibran is very much like the ideology that I believe in. And that is the reasons why I have been following Jibran for so long. When I got to know about his political campaign, I wanted to be a part of it. So I am here."
It also has strong candidates from the PPP as well as the Karachi-centric Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
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