The NA-120 result was said to be important in many ways
LAHORE: The NA-120 result was said to be important in many ways. For one, it was said to predict the results of the upcoming 2018 elections to an extent and on the other hand, prove if Maryam Nawaz was capable enough to carry out a successful campaign. Now with the PML-N’s candidate, Kulsoom Nawaz, winning the by-poll with over 14,000 votes, one can assume that the ruling party is going to give a tough fight in the general elections of 2018 with Maryam Nawaz probably calling the shots.
However, there is one thing that is oddly distressing about the NA-120 by-election: the attitude of the voters. There were a considerable amount of votes that could have made or broke someone’s win that were scrapped because they weren’t marked properly. There were also a significant number of voters that didn’t show up to vote. And most importantly, voters chose a candidate all because of her affiliation with the ruling party. Kulsoom Nawaz has no former experience in politics other than being the first lady and with a degree in Urdu language. Yet, she defeated a candidate who is a doctor by profession with multiple degrees from Pakistan and abroad, head of the department in many medical colleges and universities, former president of the Pakistan Medical Association, chairperson of the task force on women development, chairperson of the women health committee Punjab and former government office holder.
NA-120 proved Pakistan’s age-old problem of ‘parchi’ system. Nepotism won once again, while meritocracy died a slow death. And then the voters, the laymen wail about why nothing ever happens on merit in the country. The by-poll stands as a stark reflection of our choices that make — rather break in this case — our future.
Ramsha Jhangir
Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2017.
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