Breaking from tradition, ANP allots ticket to Christian woman

Sofia Yaqoob, a mother of four, has been a long-serving member of the party

KARACHI: Sofia Yaqoob is not a typical housewife. For the past several years, she has taken it upon herself to resolving her neighbours' problems - both civic and domestic.

So popular has she become in the area that the Awami National Party (ANP) has allotted her the party ticket to contest the elections from NA-256, which includes areas of North Karachi and New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Bufferzone, Shadman Town, Pahar Ganj, Hussain D'Silva Town and Kati Pahari.

Yaqoob, a mother of four, lives with her husband who is a pastor in a local church, in a two-bedroom rented apartment. Unlike her opponents who include heavyweights like the Pakistan Peoples Party's Sajid Hassan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's Amir Waliuddin Chisthi, Muhammad Adil Siddiqui of Pak Sarzameen Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Muhammad Najeeb Haroon and Meraj ul Huda Siddiqui of Jamat-e-Islami, she does not have much money to spend on her campaign. Most of her campaign-related expenses are being borne by the party. But she has also learnt to make do with what little she has.



Each day, the husband and wife roam the constituency on their motorcycle, knocking on doors and speaking to residents about their campaign. "My husband supports and encourages me for politics as through it, we can serve the masses," Yaqoob told The Express Tribune.  By the time her husband comes home from work, Yaqoob has finished her household chores and the two leave for canvassing. Often, they are accompanied by young party workers who distribute flyers and tell people about the ANP's manifesto.

"I was chosen to contest the elections from this constituency by ANP district president Niaz Muhammad Khan among many Muslim party workers, some of whom are doctors and graduates," said Yaqoob, who is a long-serving member of the party.

Although she has only received education until middle school, Yaqoob claims to be an ardent follower of the teachings of Bacha Khan. "ANP preaches a message of serving humanity, while treading on the path of its founder," she explained to The Express Tribune. This is what has appealed to her about the ANP for so many years. "We need to spread love, instead of creating differences on the basis of religion and show much-needed respect, in accordance with the teachings of Bacha Khan."



If elected, Yaqoob claimed, her primary focus would be on the issue of water scarcity in her constituency, besides working to reduce child and mother mortality rates through education and improvement in health services. "People like us can change the fate of this country as only we know the problems of the common man."

The ANP faced severe setbacks in the run-up to the 2013 elections, with their candidates hardly being able to campaign in the city for fear of being targeted by extremist groups. This time, however, Yaqoob is confident that the party will secure several seats in the city.

For his part, ANP district central president and PS-129 candidate, Niaz Muhammad Khan, told The Express Tribune that there were over 1,000 female party workers in District Central, out of whom Yaqoob was chosen to contest the elections. "Yaqoob can better understand the issues faced by her community as nearly 12,000 Christian voters live in Pahar Gunj, Nusrat Bhutto Colony, and Kausar Niazi Colony."