The microblogging site is also being used by members of civil society and party activists to post their views regarding their candidates in the election scheduled for December 5.
For instance, it was on Twitter where a photograph of an election banner of a candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) featuring Salmaan Taseer’s convicted killer Mumtaz Qadri was first posted. The photograph went on to become viral and put pressure on the JI to explain how Mr Qadri had appeared on the election banner of one of their party’s candidates.
A local spokesman of the JI was quoted in a daily newspaper as saying that candidates were free to include photographs of individuals in their election banners and that those included had done service in the cause of Islam.
All major political parties, barring the PML-N which has very little presence in Karachi in terms of electoral strength, have been active on social media. These include the Jamaat-e-Islami and even the ASWJ, both of whom have been using
ھم عوام کو نیا نہیں بلکہ پرانا کراچی لوٹائیں گے روشنیوں ، امن اور تہذیب والا کراچی #KhiStandsWithHaqpic.twitter.com/iWxSKR58jF
— فاروق جان (@am_faar0) November 28, 2015
نگہ بلند, سخن دل نواز, جان پر سوز یہی ہے زخت سفر میر کارواں کیلئے #KhiStandsWithHaq pic.twitter.com/sEnBQnlNVU @Ranakashiflatef
— Ch Muhammad Rizwan (@Muhammad16789) November 28, 2015
Interestingly, some surprising photographs have also been posted of activities related to the local elections in Karachi. One, for example, shows members of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat addressing a local corner meeting and behind them is a banner with photographs of ASWJ as well as PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. (See below)
The PPP has been busy holding corner meetings in the city as well and is posting their details on social media.
#PPP holds huge public gathering at UC 31 #Karachi (Pics via @ibrohi31) pic.twitter.com/0YwHuSXXEG
— TeamPPP (@OfficialTeamPPP) November 27, 2015
One post on Twitter, presumably by a PPP supporter, was a photograph of a PTI-JI election banner which promised a “free Android tablet” to students in case the parties prevailed in the election.
Mixed reaction on Twitter
Sources: PT(J)I planning to lodge FIR against MQM’s WASEEM AKHTAR for the sudden loose-motions of Imran Khan during the rally. — Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) November 28, 2015
Imran Khan and Siraj-ul-Haq making lots of promises to people of Karachi but they have failed to turn their own province in2 a model
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) November 28, 2015
Imran Khan portraying #Karachi as terrorized city. — Na-Maloom Engineer (@Namaloom_Engr) November 28, 2015
As soon as Imran Khan left #PTI JI #karachi rally, media also stopped covering clown @SirajOfficial who kept going
— Ghazala Khan (@ghazala_khan) November 29, 2015
#Karachi has never disappointed @ImranKhanPTI. More than any other city, we welcome Chairman & break our own record every time. #IKunitesKhi — farah lodhi khan (@farah_lodhi) November 28, 2015
#IKunitesKhi No muhajir no pushtun no Sindhi only and only Pakistanis. Not vote for bradarism only vote for peaceful Karachi
— jawad khan (@jawad0Khan) November 28, 2015