Political activities stall in twin cities

Party offices locked, workers disillusioned as once-bustling political hubs turn deserted

RAWALPINDI:

Political activities in the twin cities— once the centre of year-round political engagement 1 have been completely paralysed for the last 19 months.

The pool of committed party workers, once ready to respond to even small calls for action, has vanished. Famous political gathering spots and corner meeting points have turned dead and deserted.

Workers across all parties are visibly disillusioned with both central and local leadership. With no political activity, the offices of all major parties — PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, and PTI — have remained shut.

Party flags at PPP and PML offices lie torn. Utilities at the PPP city office — electricity and gas — have been disconnected due to default. Angry PPP workers have formed a separate "Ideological Workers Group".

The entrance to the PPP office is covered in layers of dust.

PML-N's city office on Iqbal Road is in similar condition; it opens occasionally for tea, refreshments, or "certain other activities." PTI offices remain permanently locked due to continuous political pressure, although the party's Cantt office near Panje Sarki opens two or three times a week at irregular hours when MPA candidate Khaliq Ziad Kayani visits.

After brief discussions, the office is again locked.

PML-Q has disappeared entirely from the city.

Activities of local PML-N ministers and advisers are limited to their homes, where officers of development departments arrive early each morning to mark attendance. Ordinary workers and voters have no access to them.

PTI's activity is confined only to outside Adiala Jail and the Anti-Terrorism Court.

Over the past 18-20 months, workers of the ruling party have been deeply frustrated due to unresolved daily issues and a lack of constituency work. Their children and relatives remain unemployed despite the government's time in office.

Due to continuous neglect, factionalism, and corruption allegations, no new generation of political workers has emerged since 1990-2000. Old workers have gone underground or left politics for labour or business.

Now, ruling parties have to plead with workers for participation in public gatherings. Politics in Rawalpindi has come to a complete halt.