Pakistan's middle class supports PTI overwhelmingly in the urban centres yet it is not in a comfortable majority in the parliament. In this v-log Obed Pasha gives a breakdown of the Pakistani middle class to explain why it is the case.
- Is PTI the only representative of Pakistani middle class?
- This is a very complicated question so let’s break it down
- First, we have to decide what we mean by middle class
- If by middle-class we mean urban, university-educated class
- then yes, the statement holds truth
- that PTI largely represents this class
- But most people in Pakistan are running their family businesses
- after completing their matriculation or intermediate
- or cultivating their 15-20 acre agricultural land
- or are diploma holders in technical education
- In this class, PTI isn’t as popular as it is in the former
- Like in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, people also have soft corner
- for Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, alongside PTI
- In Balochistan, they are inclined more towards nationalist parties
- In Sindh, people still support People’s Party, although grudgingly
- and in Karachi, Hyderabad, they support Altaf Hussain’s MQM
- In Punjab, Maryam Nawaz is also a very important factor
- Now because this class is rich and well-connected
- with each other through social media,
- they’re fast becoming a strong, potent political force
- So whether it is PTI, PML-N or some other political party,
- question is who can win them over to their side
- Whichever party succeeds in drawing this youth
- will be the future of Pakistan