What Did We Vote For?

The people of Pakistan who voted in hope of amelioration of their living conditions, relief from soaring prices and peace of minds are now getting really frustrated with the change their votes have produced. The change for better for which they exercised their right on 18th Feb. have brought nothing more than a stalemate on an issue which isn’t the cause of bother for a common man who is suffering from lack of food, water and electricity coupled with the load of rocketing prices on his shoulders.

Did we vote for this? No!!

Completely agreeing with Gul Riaz on his post (PDA Must Break) at the TPS, people are now asking for results, or at least some hope for them. It’s high time that the parties whose agenda was just the restoration of few men separate their path and let those parties who are more practical to people’s issues take the driving seat. The PML(N) has dragged the PPP in a difficult situation. The solution to this unholy marriage is a quick divorce.

The more natural alliances of PPP, PML(Q) and the MQM together with ANP and JUI(F) (these parties aren’t even taken onboard the negotiations abroad) may not bring back Chaudhry Iftikhar, but they will settle the dust on the issue of judiciary once and for all.

My previous post on financial and economic crisis also highlights why the PML(N) should just quit immediately because of their extreme lack of focus on issues other that judiciary despite having their men in lucrative ministries.

Rising Temperatures at NA-55

Aitezaz Ahsan announced at the Rawalpindi Bar that he will be contesting the by-election from NA-55. In fact, he and his fellow lawyers moved on to submit his nomination papers as well. While, Asif Zardari has already expressed his willingness to contest from the same constituency. The rift between Aitezaz and Zardari is not hidden by any means. The interview with Dr. Shahid Masood was a demo.

Speaking of NA-55, the “great” Imran Khan has also announced his plans of contesting the election from the famous constituency of NA-55 which is left open by Javed Hashmi and which used to be considered as an unbeatable seat of Sheikh Rasheed.

Since the seat is left by a PML-N candidate, the new nominee must have the backing of Nawaz (as agreed by the coalition partners). Apparently, Aitezaz does.  But it does look awkward with Zardari and Aitezaz. [Update: Aitezaz is contesting as an independent]

In an old interview Sheikh Rasheed said that he may consider running for by-elections. With so many power horses already in the race, not-so-good start of the new government and the chances of votes splitting, Sheikh Rasheed may have a slim chance of taking advantage (if he runs for it).

We’ll have to wait and see. But not for long. The wait has been prolonged. By-elections delayed by 2 months!

My right, my voice, my VOTE!

I feel relieved at rendering my national responsiblity. I feel gratified for standing up to what I believe. I feel confident about the future. And, I feel proud to cast MY VOTE!

I must say that stamping the ballot papers was a smooth sailing. The process is pretty simple without any obfuscations. A staff camping outside the polling station checked my name in a list of registered voters and assigned a polling booth to me inside the station, which was a makeshift arrangement inside a kids’ school. Before entering the polling station I was searched professionally (and apologetically) by a young officer among a dozen security officials. I must say that the security arrangements were excellent. Two rangers round the corner on each side, one on the rooftop and about 5 police officials were sighted. No vehicles were being allowed to use the road on which the polling station was located. And this is the arrangement for a polling station in a pretty safe residential area which has no history of violence. Hats off to the government, I hope the law and order situation remains calm all day.

Once inside the polling station, a courteous staff member asked for my National ID (NIC) Card. My credentials were quickly verified by two men in parallel on separate copies of similar electoral rolls and my name was striked out. Moving on to the next table, two men quickly filled in the ballot papers for National and Provincial assemblies with my NIC number and stamped them while a third flecked my left thumb with ink. The ballot papers were handed over to me and I was directed in to a small room where I could stamp my choice in privacy. Moving out of it, I dropped the two papers in separate transparent boxes and felt a sigh of relief and comfort.

During the whole process, not a single person asked me, pressurised me or threatened me to vote for someone specifically. For ME, the process was completely transparent (yeah, that’s for me only!).

I witnessed a very professional display of work ethics as well when a potential voter came up to the staff and found that his name wasn’t in the list because he didn’t register. He asked if he could vote in any case rather maliciously. The EC staff categorically denied it saying “if your name isn’t there, it is simple impossible for you to vote and you may leave now.” Again, this helped me to feel more confident about the process.

It is over for now, but the excitement will surely return when the results start flowing in. Overall, casting my vote for the first has been a satiating and cheering experience.