Political parties wrestle to gain the upper hand

GILGIT: The Attabad landslide and the ensuing chaos in Gilgit and Hunza has triggered  fierce competition between mainstream political parties, who are all trying to gain support from the locals.

The crisis began when a massive landslide struck a small village – Attabad – in Hunza on January 4. The response to the calamity was initially slow, angering those affected by the rising lake water. But by mid-March, the media began monitoring the situation closely and a number of high-ranking politicians headed to Gilgit and Hunza, aid packages in tow. They addressed pubic meetings and met with IDPs in camps.

“We are happy that at least the Attabad disaster brought these politicians here,” said Karim, a businessman from Hunza.

However, when Prime Minister Gilani visited the region for the first time since the landslide struck, affectees refused to accept his compensation package. Locals dubbed the PM’s visit a ‘picnic’ which impeded relief work as officials had to attend to the PM’s VIP movement.

Soon after this, armed with an aid package worth Rs 100 million and Rs 500,000 donated to each landslide victim, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif managed to turn the tables on the PPP.

Slogans of “Nawaz Sharif Zindabad” were heard in the region for the first time.

“We welcome Nawaz Sharif’s ‘solidarity’ as it wasn’t merely lip service,” an IDP said.

Baffled by this new development, the PPP regional government devised a new strategy to counter the situation. Apart from compensation packages, PPP MLAs have been asked to remain in close contact with IDPs until the influx of politicians ends.

The PML-N delegation wasn’t the last one to visit the disaster hit area, as several other top political players also followed suit. Mian Iftikhar, the information minister Khyber-Pakhtunkwa, Maulan Fazal-ur-Rehman, head of JUI-F, Mohammad Ali Durrani, former chief minister of MMA government, Namat Ullah, former mayor Karachi and Jamaat-i-Islami senior member, the PM and president of AJK, and many others thronged to the area to express their solidarity with the affectees. Only time will tell how these parties succeed in bringing the people into their fold, said a social worker.

Published in the Express Tribune June 3^rd, 2010.