Christian candidate wants to prove minorities are electable
Ishtiaq is the only non-Muslim running for chairmanship of a UC
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The election for the chairmanship of Union Council (UC) 16 in Rawalpindi has been deferred for 15 days due to the death of a candidate.
The UC stands out in Rawalpindi as the only one where a Christian is running for chairmanship.
The candidate — Sohail Ishtiaq — is in fact the only non-Muslim in the race for chairmanship of a UC in Rawalpindi. Ishtiaq told The Express Tribune that elections for the top slot have been postponed, but the rest of the panel is contesting for lower seats as scheduled.
On whether a delayed election would affect his electability, Ishtiaq said that the overall result would not matter, as he has a good reputation in the area.
“I’m the only Christian candidate in the city… no one discriminates against me on the basis of my faith. I’ve been elected councilor [in the same area] twice but decided to compete for the chairman’s position this year” he expressed.
Local government elections stand out from national-level elections because candidates’ personalities matter more than party backing, Ishtiaq said. He further expressed that the local population was showing great support and he feels he stands a strong chance at winning the elections, now scheduled for December 20.
Ishtiaq’s main backer is the Pakistan Peoples Party, while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have fielded their own separate panels in the UC.
Meanwhile, all of the contesting political parties have set up election camps on Asghar Mall Road, causing huge traffic jams. “The area was already extremely busy because it is a commercial hub” said Zafar Ali, a resident. Many locals also complained that the blocking of roads for the election camps was has created unnecessary problems for commuters. Security officials deployed near the polling stations are not intervening as far as the political activities in the area are concerned, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2015.
The election for the chairmanship of Union Council (UC) 16 in Rawalpindi has been deferred for 15 days due to the death of a candidate.
The UC stands out in Rawalpindi as the only one where a Christian is running for chairmanship.
The candidate — Sohail Ishtiaq — is in fact the only non-Muslim in the race for chairmanship of a UC in Rawalpindi. Ishtiaq told The Express Tribune that elections for the top slot have been postponed, but the rest of the panel is contesting for lower seats as scheduled.
On whether a delayed election would affect his electability, Ishtiaq said that the overall result would not matter, as he has a good reputation in the area.
“I’m the only Christian candidate in the city… no one discriminates against me on the basis of my faith. I’ve been elected councilor [in the same area] twice but decided to compete for the chairman’s position this year” he expressed.
Local government elections stand out from national-level elections because candidates’ personalities matter more than party backing, Ishtiaq said. He further expressed that the local population was showing great support and he feels he stands a strong chance at winning the elections, now scheduled for December 20.
Ishtiaq’s main backer is the Pakistan Peoples Party, while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have fielded their own separate panels in the UC.
Meanwhile, all of the contesting political parties have set up election camps on Asghar Mall Road, causing huge traffic jams. “The area was already extremely busy because it is a commercial hub” said Zafar Ali, a resident. Many locals also complained that the blocking of roads for the election camps was has created unnecessary problems for commuters. Security officials deployed near the polling stations are not intervening as far as the political activities in the area are concerned, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2015.