While one party is trying to woo voters with their promises to end corruption, the opponents in the Model Town Society (MTS) elections have vowed to eradicate illegal commercialisation from the society.
Banners, signboards and flags carrying pictures and slogans of candidates have been installed at almost every road of MTS, as society elections approach.
Political activities are also in full swing for the elections, scheduled for February 26. As many as 41 candidates, mainly from two parties_ the Model Town Group and the Unity Group_ have registered for 20 managing committee seats, two in each block.
A large crescent moon, the election sign for the Model Town Group, has been installed at the Model Town round-about, while an eagle cut-out, the Unity Group’s sign, has been hung on the road at Model Town Mor.
Model Town Group’s Sahab Zada Saifur Rehman is contesting for the post of the society’s president against Unity Group’s Rana Mateen. Model Town Group’s Daud Barry is contesting for the post of the vice president against Maj (retired) Mustaq Ahmad of the Unity Group.
Two independent candidates, Malik Muhammad Amjad Khan (Block-J) and Mateenul Haq Khan (Block-G), will also contest these elections.
Of the 4,200 registered MTS members, 3,926 are qualified to vote. Block-G has the largest number of voters (495) while Block-J has the smallest (239).
Block-A has 313, Block-B 378, Block-C 477, Block-D 477, Block-E 416, Block-F 373, Block-H 434, and Block-K 373.
Ibrar Bhatti, the Model Town Club president, told The Express Tribune that the amount of money spent on this campaign was the most ever spent on any election campaign. He said that there was no limit on election spending.
He said it was likely that the Model Town Group would win the elections.
Talking to the candidates
Model Town Group’s Saifur Rehman, running for the president’s slot, told The Express Tribune that the residents believed in their administration. He said their group had done a good job under the administration of former MTS president Col Tahir Kardar. He said the group had brought the Makro Community Centre, a water filtration plant and a “foolproof” security arrangement to Model Town.
He said once he was in power, he planned to close down all illegal schools in the society. He said his party also planned to increase revenue generation.
Rehman’s opponent Mateen said that if corruption were weeded out from the society’s administration, there would be no need to generate more revenues.
He said that the last two society budgets were in deficit, showing the incompetence of the earlier administration. He vowed to make the MTS administration corruption-free.
Amir Bakht Azam, the Model Town Residents’ Association president, accused the previous administration of embezzling Rs20 million every month.
He said that two residential quarters had been illegally allotted to Col Kardar’s servants. He said one of these house was being used for unauthorised commercial activity, causing a loss of Rs800,000 per month to the society’s exchequer.
He said giving the Model Town Club on a monthly lease of Rs3,500 and giving billboards without tenders spoke volume of his Col Kardar’s corruption.
He believed that Mateen would prove to be a better president.
DSP (retired) Mian Saleem, who is in charge of security in Model Town, told The Express Tribune that tight security arrangements had been made for the elections. He said 20 booths would be set up in 10 blocks with one for male and another for female voters. He said four reserves with 10 female constables would be deputed around the polling booths on the day of the elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2012.
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InshALLAH Mateen Rana will win the election for PRESIDENT!