Peshawar's burgeoning population poised to influence outcome
Influx of displaced persons to the city likely to aide mainstream parties.
Influx of displaced persons to the city likely to aide mainstream parties. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ MOHAMMAD SAQIB
PESHAWAR:
Peshawar’s increase in population over the past few years will result in more voters casting their ballots today as compared to the 2008 polls. Not only will this influence the election results in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it is also likely to benefit mainstream political parties.
In the last four years, the city has seen a rapid increase in its population due to a substantial influx of displaced persons swarming in from war-torn areas. This has automatically raised the number of voters, providing candidates a chance to attract more supporters.
Data obtained from the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) shows the number of plots allotted in Hayatabad was 13,327 in February 2008, with residential houses accounting for around 95% of this figure. Ahead of the upcoming elections, the number of houses has reached 14,946, thereby increasing the number of registered voters.
Political analysts say votes will be split between candidates contesting from any given constituency. However, the divide will not occur in the vote banks of mainstream political parties which allow only a single candidate to contest from a particular area.
As for the voters themselves, a number of people said they would favour candidates from mainstream political parties as opposed to those who are contesting independently, indicating the latter may not secure many votes.
“I will vote for Arbab Alamgir Khalil of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the National Assembly seat and Maulana Amanullah Haqqani for the provincial assembly seat,” said Kashif Khan, a resident of Hayatabad Phase-V.
Another resident, Kalim Afridi, who is a member of a displaced family currently residing in Phase-I, said he will vote for the candidate who offers him money. “I am not interested in [any] party or candidate this time.”
“I will support former federal minister for communication Arbab Alamgir Khalil (PPP) this time as well,” said Muhammad Asif of Phase III, looking to vote for a candidate from a mainstream party.
On the other hand, some families living with their relatives in congested houses in Gulberg said they are not bothered about casting their vote because no welfare steps were taken by the previous government for their relief. “We are stuck in the middle, so why should we vote for these candidates?” questioned Mohabat Shah, a displaced person.
A political analyst in Islamabad, speaking on the condition of anonymity, agreed a major part of the votes would go in favour of larger political parties. However, he also said the tribal areas’ environment suits independent candidates due to the immense powers vested in them by the Frontier Crimes Regulation, something unavailable to candidates representing parties.
“Under a party’s policy, a party leader is bound to follow the party line, otherwise action is taken against him/her under Article 63-A of the Constitution,” he said. The analyst added many prefer to contest independently because they do not want to be used for the interests of establishment circles.
The analyst maintained two voter dimensions currently exist for displaced persons – those living in camps and those living with host families. He added the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had completed the registration of people displaced during 2011 and 2012, and also registered some displaced recently.
He claimed it was a positive indicator that the ECP had completed the difficult task of registering these voters. However, he pointed out the voters’ displacement and clustered living conditions as negative aspects of the population increase.
The analyst explained how registration would work for displaced persons. For example, he said a person displaced from Bara living in Peshawar would vote from his or her hometown if registered in the initial phase.
Those registered recently, on the other hand, would cast their votes in camps where the government has made arrangements. “For this purpose, the government conducted an extensive awareness drive among the displaced people across the country,” he added.
The last population and housing census was conducted across Pakistan in 1998. Since then, the scheduled and long overdue tabulations of 2008 and 2012 could not be undertaken due to the precarious law and order situation coupled with lack of resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
Peshawar’s increase in population over the past few years will result in more voters casting their ballots today as compared to the 2008 polls. Not only will this influence the election results in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it is also likely to benefit mainstream political parties.
In the last four years, the city has seen a rapid increase in its population due to a substantial influx of displaced persons swarming in from war-torn areas. This has automatically raised the number of voters, providing candidates a chance to attract more supporters.
Data obtained from the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) shows the number of plots allotted in Hayatabad was 13,327 in February 2008, with residential houses accounting for around 95% of this figure. Ahead of the upcoming elections, the number of houses has reached 14,946, thereby increasing the number of registered voters.
Political analysts say votes will be split between candidates contesting from any given constituency. However, the divide will not occur in the vote banks of mainstream political parties which allow only a single candidate to contest from a particular area.
As for the voters themselves, a number of people said they would favour candidates from mainstream political parties as opposed to those who are contesting independently, indicating the latter may not secure many votes.
“I will vote for Arbab Alamgir Khalil of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the National Assembly seat and Maulana Amanullah Haqqani for the provincial assembly seat,” said Kashif Khan, a resident of Hayatabad Phase-V.
Another resident, Kalim Afridi, who is a member of a displaced family currently residing in Phase-I, said he will vote for the candidate who offers him money. “I am not interested in [any] party or candidate this time.”
“I will support former federal minister for communication Arbab Alamgir Khalil (PPP) this time as well,” said Muhammad Asif of Phase III, looking to vote for a candidate from a mainstream party.
On the other hand, some families living with their relatives in congested houses in Gulberg said they are not bothered about casting their vote because no welfare steps were taken by the previous government for their relief. “We are stuck in the middle, so why should we vote for these candidates?” questioned Mohabat Shah, a displaced person.
A political analyst in Islamabad, speaking on the condition of anonymity, agreed a major part of the votes would go in favour of larger political parties. However, he also said the tribal areas’ environment suits independent candidates due to the immense powers vested in them by the Frontier Crimes Regulation, something unavailable to candidates representing parties.
“Under a party’s policy, a party leader is bound to follow the party line, otherwise action is taken against him/her under Article 63-A of the Constitution,” he said. The analyst added many prefer to contest independently because they do not want to be used for the interests of establishment circles.
The analyst maintained two voter dimensions currently exist for displaced persons – those living in camps and those living with host families. He added the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had completed the registration of people displaced during 2011 and 2012, and also registered some displaced recently.
He claimed it was a positive indicator that the ECP had completed the difficult task of registering these voters. However, he pointed out the voters’ displacement and clustered living conditions as negative aspects of the population increase.
The analyst explained how registration would work for displaced persons. For example, he said a person displaced from Bara living in Peshawar would vote from his or her hometown if registered in the initial phase.
Those registered recently, on the other hand, would cast their votes in camps where the government has made arrangements. “For this purpose, the government conducted an extensive awareness drive among the displaced people across the country,” he added.
The last population and housing census was conducted across Pakistan in 1998. Since then, the scheduled and long overdue tabulations of 2008 and 2012 could not be undertaken due to the precarious law and order situation coupled with lack of resources.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.