PPP candidate for PS-109, Saniya Naz.
The relentless heat, heavy downpours and the thick smog that Saniya Naz braved to study at a roadside school eventually helped her in the long run.
“I feel the pain of the poor. I understand what poverty is. I will help those in need,” says the 26-year-old Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate for a general seat in violence-prone Lyari. Saniya, who is one of the youngest candidates running for elections, faced hard times as a child. She says this gave her the heart and spirit to work for others. With no political experience, she likes to be called a social worker rather than a politician.
“When I was younger, there were times when we would eat only once a day. There would be no food in the house and my mother would go to a nearby dargah to get dates and rotis for us.” To support the family, her mother worked as a maid and her father was as a carpenter who made carom boards.
Despite such conditions, Saniya remained firm in her resolve to study, even if it was in a roadside school in Moosa Lane. With no roof over their heads, a curtain veiled the students from passersby and vehicles. The children had to sit on muddy rugs.
Saniya, who has studied up to the Intermediate level, had to leave school and become a teacher to support her family after her father died. But social work - whether it was starting a saving group for the Orangi Pilot Project or opening up schools in slums - was always her passion.
With the elections creeping closer, Saniya has started holding small rallies in the evenings. “I never write down speeches. Our people want to hear what the truth is and I always speak from the heart.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (9)
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@expaki: I cannot help you if you cannot swallow the truth.
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd): "You have summed it up very well. She is in the wrong party" yes ( retrd) sahib, but such people are more honest than Maoji Gernails of past.
@Salman: You have summed it up very well. She is in the wrong party. I wish she had joined PTI.
it is quite clear that you want same suffering for people of Pakistan. obviously, you will live a wealthy life by becoming a PPP candidate but this is the same party that has forced millions of Pakistanis to eat only one time during the day.
I respect your feelings and passion but lady, you have chosen the wrong bus.
She may be sincere in her feelings and efforts, but Alas! She chose the wrong boat, one that will only sink and will bring down whole Sindh with it. One can understand the limitations she might have being from Lyari, and PPPP would be happy to encash her position to their cause - none other than loot and corruption.
She is not a PPP candidate she is a candidate of Peoples Aman Committee nominated by Uzair Bhai who is the Haji Mastan of Lyari now a days. Pl ET don't make a mockery of lower middle class.
Practically true,sincere and honest hard work and struggle never discard but the real thing is we don't have to loose our hopes and only trust on Allah Almighty and keep continue our struggles.....
Practically true,sincere and honest hard work and struggle never discard......
Understanding Poverty by PPP is hard to digest. Lady even what you're staying is true, you chose a wrong party to contest these elections