The need to unite: Polling agents want MQM, MQM-H to bury hatchet

KARACHI: As allegations and counter-allegations between representatives of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Muhajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi (MQM-H) kept people glued to their television screens during the by-polls on PS-127, the polling agents of the two parties offered a completely different outlook.

It was relatively friendly inside polling booth number 50 at the polling station set up at Monotechnic Institute in Urdu Nagar - a Muhajir-dominated area - as compared to the atmosphere outside as female polling agents of the two parties shared tips and gossip while munching on snacks.

MQM-H's polling agent, Rafeeqa Begum, seated next to MQM's polling agent Naushaba, shared that she wants the Muhajir community to bury the hatchet and work together. She said that the women of both the parties understand how important it is for the Muhajir community to end their split.

"It's just a war of egos between the men of the two parties," she said, adding that since the MQM has now disowned their founder, there remains no point of contention.

Agreeing with Rafeeqa, Naushaba said the Muhajir community has been split so other political parties can take advantage. Rafeeqa quipped in that if Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) wins this election, it will be the result of the divide in the Muhajir community.

Meanwhile, in Dawood Goth's polling booth number 84 - an area populated mostly by Sindhis and Baloch - polling agents belonged to only PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Muhammad Akbar and Salman Naveed, who are also cousins, were the polling agents of the PTI and PPP, respectively. Despite their political differences, both helped each other in locating voter numbers in the polling lists. According to Akbar, their ancestors have always been PPP voters but because of their poor performance, their inclinations have shifted towards PTI as they do not have any other option. Naveed said he will never leave the party that his ancestors supported throughout the years.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2016.