Man creates his own elections to vote
The wooden ballot box is inscribed with slogans in favour of Pervez Elahi
Khalid Pervez, a victim of paralysis, cast his vote into a wooden ballot box. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
As the nation went to polls, a differently-abled and diehard supporter of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) created his own election apparatus to vote for his leader Pervaiz Elahi.
The voters were casting their votes at polling stations across the country, but Khalid Pervaiz, a victim of paralysis, cast his vote into a wooden ballot box at a tailor’s shop.
The ballot box is inscribed with slogans such as “Mera leader Pervez Elahi” and “Jiyala Pervaiz Elahi”. He wore headbands inscribed with “Meri Jan Pervaiz Elahi, Jiyala Pervaiz Elahi.
“Yes, everyone should cast his/her vote for the prosperity of Pakistan, but being poor and handicapped, I cannot travel to Gujrat to vote for Pervaiz Elahi,” he said. To make ends meet, he works at a tailor shop while his mother supports the family as a domestic helper. He said no one was ready to take him to Okara so that he could cast his vote.
“This is the second time I am casting my absentee vote to Pervez Elahi in general elections to convey a message that he is my leader,” Pervaiz remarked.
When asked why does he cast absentee ballot, he said he cast his vote to express his love for the PML-Q’ leader but could not afford the travel cost to Gujrat.
He claimed that he has a collection of over 100,000 pictures of his leader which he had clipped from different newspapers and magazines. The tailor was even ready to lay down his life for Elahi. Pervaiz said he prayed to God to make his leader victorious in the polls.
When asked whether he ever met Pervaiz Elahi, he said ran into the PML-Q leader briefly but wanted to meet him again to discuss a few important issues in detail.
He said his loyalty had been with Pervaiz Elahi since long and he has supported him unconditionally.
He said his mother and friends had asked him time and again to forget Pervaiz Elahi, but it was difficult for him to forget his leader as he lived in his heart, mind and soul. He believed the day would come when Pervaiz Elahi would meet him.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2018.
As the nation went to polls, a differently-abled and diehard supporter of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) created his own election apparatus to vote for his leader Pervaiz Elahi.
The voters were casting their votes at polling stations across the country, but Khalid Pervaiz, a victim of paralysis, cast his vote into a wooden ballot box at a tailor’s shop.
The ballot box is inscribed with slogans such as “Mera leader Pervez Elahi” and “Jiyala Pervaiz Elahi”. He wore headbands inscribed with “Meri Jan Pervaiz Elahi, Jiyala Pervaiz Elahi.
“Yes, everyone should cast his/her vote for the prosperity of Pakistan, but being poor and handicapped, I cannot travel to Gujrat to vote for Pervaiz Elahi,” he said. To make ends meet, he works at a tailor shop while his mother supports the family as a domestic helper. He said no one was ready to take him to Okara so that he could cast his vote.
“This is the second time I am casting my absentee vote to Pervez Elahi in general elections to convey a message that he is my leader,” Pervaiz remarked.
When asked why does he cast absentee ballot, he said he cast his vote to express his love for the PML-Q’ leader but could not afford the travel cost to Gujrat.
He claimed that he has a collection of over 100,000 pictures of his leader which he had clipped from different newspapers and magazines. The tailor was even ready to lay down his life for Elahi. Pervaiz said he prayed to God to make his leader victorious in the polls.
When asked whether he ever met Pervaiz Elahi, he said ran into the PML-Q leader briefly but wanted to meet him again to discuss a few important issues in detail.
He said his loyalty had been with Pervaiz Elahi since long and he has supported him unconditionally.
He said his mother and friends had asked him time and again to forget Pervaiz Elahi, but it was difficult for him to forget his leader as he lived in his heart, mind and soul. He believed the day would come when Pervaiz Elahi would meet him.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2018.