Voters use social media to slam rigging | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Voters use social media to slam rigging

Karachi: Live updates on the general elections appearing on popular social networking websites are an indication of how smartphones and the rising power of social media have provided everyone with a voice.

By 5pm Saturday, the hashtag #NA250 was one of the top trends in the country on Twitter. The constituency saw a massive turnout of voters, who waited in long queues and endured the scorching sun to cast their vote. Many of them were supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Dr Arif Alvi, PTI’s NA-250 candidate, tweeted that a polling station in Phase-IV had not opened until 3pm.

Around 6:30pm, voters launched a protest that was tweeted live. The hashtag #DisqualifyMQM was also a popular trend, as citizens by and large accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement of rigging the polls.

On Facebook, users posted photos of voters bearing the heat for hours, as voting in many parts of Gulistan-e-Jauhar (NA-253) began after 3pm.

“Sigh of relief* Finally done with voting 🙂 I was there at the station since 12 and returned home at 7. My feet hurt, my back aches; but this is nothing compared to the level of excitement and passion,” posted Shireen Jafri. Another user posted a picture of his hand with four inked fingers, saying: “I live in a pro-Bhai (MQM chief Altaf Hussain) area and was asked to vote for eight people, who had not turned up to vote, by namaloom afraad (unidentified people).”

Natasha Shamul Khan posted: “Bol kay lab azaad hain teray (Speak up, for your lips are still free). If you feel elections in your area were rigged, report to the media.”

Source: The News


Comments are closed.