Low turnout of youth at polling stations

PML-N and PTI, both claim the support of the youth

LAHORE: A low turnout of youth was witnessed in NA-120 by-elections in the heart of Lahore where a tough competition between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took place on Sunday.

Both political parties claim the support of youth, however, on the voting day only a few youngsters were seen at the polling stations. Local people said there was an overall sluggish turnout in the constituency.



“We have the support of the youth as our party draws support from the youth,” said Muhammad Asif who was present at a polling camp of PTI. He was of the opinion that his party was built on the support of the youth who were dissatisfied with the ruling political class. When asked about the low turnout, he said their voters would turn up before the end of the polling deadline. However, he attributed the overall low turnout as traditional turnout in a by-election.



On the other hand, PML-N camp also claimed the support of the youth of the area. Shahbaz Butt, a PML-N worker, said NA-120 was the stronghold of the Sharif family and the PML-N.

“People of every age support the N League here and youth is no exception,” he said. He pointed to the election campaign of Maryam Nawaz and said a lot of youngsters were part of her rallies, meetings and campaigns. Commenting on the low turnout, he was hopeful that as the day progresses, the number of voters, including youth, would increase.

When The Express Tribune spoke to youngsters of the area, they were politically charged and had strong views about different political parties and the candidates taking part in by-elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2017.