New Delhi: Pakistan’s general elections held on 8 February, saw Pakistani celebrities bat in support of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan and put out apolitical calls to vote. Some even show off their poetry.
Actor Usama Khan shared a picture of a sticker from Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Instagram and wrote, “Don’t know the candidate but I know the leader”. Even his Instagram profile photo is Imran Khan.
While most comments were in support, a battle ensued under his social media post, between supporters of PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif and PTI’s Khan.
“Inshallah, Khan will win,” a user wrote. Another said, “Whoever you might have cast your vote for, its Nawaz who will return to power”
One reminded Usama that this is what Altaf Hussain’s followers thought too. Hussain, who founded the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was known for advocating for the rights of Muhajirs. But he was run out of Pakistan by the Nawaz Sharif-led Operation Clean-up.
Also Read: Pakistan elections: All eyes on whether Army favourite Nawaz Sharif will win majority
‘Vote or shut up’
Actor Sajal Aly posted a picture of her ink-stained finger, with the caption “Cast your vote for the betterment of our country” on Instagram. She didn’t show support for any of the parties but the top comment reflects Pakistanis’ feeling of helplessness—“Its [sic] doesnt matter who we vote at the end these chor will win.”
Indians made sure their voice was also heard, “India supports Kaptaan,” one user wrote. Kaptaan is a moniker for Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, Pakistani singer-songwriter Bilal Maqsood put up an Instagram story of his thumb, saying, “Main chota sa angootha hun, par kaam karoonga baray baray” (I’m a small thumb but I will achieve big things)
Actor Imran Abbas also shared a picture of his finger with a couplet—
“Shikwaye zulmat e shab se to kaheen behter tha,
Apne hisse ki koi shamma jalaate jaatay,
Us ki wo jaanay usay paas-e-wafa tha ke na tha,
Tum Faraz apni taraf se to nibhaatay jaatay”
(Instead of complaining about the night of wrongs and darkness,
It would have been better, had you chosen to light a flame yourself
Loyalty or not is their concern, you could have done your responsibility)
Actors Mahira Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Mawra Hocane, Ayeza Khan, Osman Khalid Butt, etc and more urged people to exercise their voting rights without endorsing any one party.
Actor Ahmed Ali Butt’s post was less advice and more statement, he wrote, “Vote or Shut up”.
Meanwhile, Pakistani citizens were abuzz with humour. From getting rishtas at polling booths to divorced parents running into each other, Pakistanis took to X to share their election experiences.
Another X user shared pictures of Indian actor Imran Khan and his recent Vogue India shoot with the caption: “voted for him only because of this shoot”
While Pakistanis found humour in their chaotic election, Pakistani national daily Dawn, termed the elections as “Lacklustre from the beginning, the exercise concluded with a whimper’ in its editorial.
“All that was needed was for the ECP to let candidates campaign without restrictions, prepare the grounds for a clean and non-controversial contest, assist the country’s adult population in freely exercising their right to self-determination, conduct a transparent count of their ballots, and quietly and respectfully bow out. As history will bear witness, it failed on almost all of those counts,” it said.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)