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Youth’ role in elections
The countdown has started to the upcoming general election in Pakistan, a significant demographic shift is unfolding, a surge in the number of young voters. From 46.43 million in 2018, the count has skyrocketed to 56.86 million, reflecting an increase of 10.42 million in just six years. This demographic influx, constituting 44.22% of the total electorate, is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the political trajectory of the nation.
One distinctive feature of this burgeoning group is their active presence on social media platforms. With the majority of young voters engaging in the digital realm, there exists a potent potential for them to wield influence through online channels. The ability to utilise propaganda tools on social media platforms gives this demographic the power to not only sway opinions but also reshape the electoral landscape, particularly in key constituencies.
The sheer volume of young voters has the potential to be a game-changer, especially if they turn out in large numbers on Election Day. Accounting for 44.22% of the total voters, this substantial portion of the electorate can exert a considerable impact on electoral outcomes across various constituencies. Their collective voice, amplified by their high turnout, could be instrumental in determining the direction of the upcoming general elections. That political party would be in a winning position which utilized electronic as well as social media properly and effectively.
As Pakistan stands on the brink of a transformative electoral experience, acknowledging and addressing the needs and expectations of this surging young demographic is not just a choice but a necessity. The political parties that resonate most effectively with this diverse and dynamic group are likely to find themselves in a favourable position when the ballots are cast, shaping the trajectory of the nation for years to come.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Shameful words
“No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else.”The words uttered by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in an address coinciding with 100 days of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza after the Hamas attacks of the 7th of October, 2023. It is not just those shameful words that have been broadcast giddily. Scores of statements made by politicians, military leaders and videos of troops going into ‘battle’ in Gaza, have not just been circulated worldwide, but also used by South Africa in its case in the International Court of Justice against Israel.
If there is one thing that remains true from day one to day one hundred, it is that Israel does not have even the semblance of adherence to international law when it comes to its current onslaught. The Occupation has dropped 65,000 tonnes of explosives on an open air prison that is 41 km long and 12 km wide. It has killed 24,000 human beings, many of them children, including ones in hospital. Though the passage of a hundred days may be symbolic, the onslaught does not seem to show any signs of slowing down.
It is an expensive campaign, with the Occupation spending not just money and human resources but also considerable political capital, with many of the fence-sitters coming round to not just asking for a ceasefire but viewing the entire issue in a different light to begin with. So why does the Zionist state keep at it? If we were to discount the false flag conspiracy theory, then it should be kept in mind that the attacks were quite emasculating for such a security state.
The much fawned over Iron Dome was breached and kids, basically, conducted a complex set of operations whose chatter, as it were, was not picked up by Mossad. It needs big targets, to convey to its people a sense of closure, an achievement. But there is nothing, really, that can do the trick. How many more children’s hospitals can it bomb? It has gone berserk. There is no greater comment on the myth of the ‘international community’ than what is happening in Palestine right now.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
