A widely circulated post on social media platform X on Wednesday gained traction with its claim that a PML-N leader asked party members to keep an eye on their children on polling day, apparently referring to the PTI. The claim is true from a PML-N election meeting in Chakwal on January 15.

According to fact-checking platform iVerify Pakistan, a post was circulating on social media platform X since a day ago with the caption: “Six ticket holders of PML-N Chakwal were sitting on a sofa and everyone is being told to keep an eye on their children at home and they will defeat us.”

The post was viewed over 21,000 times while another post with the same content gained over 112,000 views.

In an attached video, people can be seen gathered in a house’s driveway and garden while a speaker addresses them before offering a prayer.

“Before the prayer, I want to emphasise one thing to my party’s leaders gathered here which they have to keep in mind. They have to pay special attention to their households, particularly their children, that we somehow aren’t harmed through our households.

“Do keep this in mind that the upcoming new generation has went somewhat astray in the last four years and we have to bring them back. If the party gains their votes then no other power can defeat,” the speaker said.

According to Chakwal-based journalist Nabeel Anwar Dhakku, local PML-N leader Haji Nazir Sultan had given this advice during a gathering at the Chakwal residence of PML-N’s district president and PP-20 candidate Chaudhry Mohammad Sultan Haider Ali Khan.

The platform concluded that the “clip circulating on social media is true along with the claim attached to it.”

In the 2018 general elections, the PP-21 and NA-64 constituencies from Chakwal were won by PTI’s Yasir Humayun and Zulfiqar Ali Khan respectively.

As per a Dawn report, the number of young voters has surged to 56.86 million from 46.43m in 2018 which placed them “in a position to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of general elections.”

This fact check has been published in partnership with iVerify Pakistan — a project of CEJ and UNDP

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2024