Many parents bring children to polling stations to experience voting process. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
Though unable to vote, children seemed as caught up in election fever as adults on Saturday.
Wearing a white shirt with a bat on it and the PTI flag painted on his face, Hamza, 5, accompanied his mother to a polling station in NA-128. “Aye, aye, PTI,” he chanted, running around as if in a playground.
“Hamza has been to several PTI processions, including on March 23.
He loves the PTI songs and starts singing whenever he sees a picture of Imran Khan or the PTI flag,” said his proud mother Shafia Butt.
She said she had tried to stop Hamza from singing inside the polling station, fearing that election staff would tell her to remove him, “but they were all very nice to him”.
“It’s important that we educate our kids about the importance of voting. Hopefully Hamza will remember this experience and tell his own children about it one day. I think all parents should bring their children to the polling station,” she said.
Saleem Bashir, a resident of FCC Colony, agreed. He had brought his four-year-old son, Adnan, with him to watch the electoral process.
“It’s like taking your children to a mosque or to a church so they can learn about their religion,” he said. “This experience will register and when he grows up he will make sure that he votes.”
“Shair aik wari pher,” (The Tiger one more time), chanted Amna Zafar, 10, as she stood in the midst of a group of PTI supporters outside Model Girls High School in Model Town. The PTI supporters sang back, outnumbering the little girl, but Amna was unfazed and shouted as loud as she could.
“They are burger supporters,” said Amna, who had accompanied her mother Samia. “Only PML-N can bring change,” she added.
Samia said that her family had supporters of PTI and PPP too, so Amna was used to some healthy political banter.
“She wanted to come see the process of voting as she will also one day be part of it,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2013.
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1732012115-0/Untitled-design-(14)1732012115-0-270x192.webp "palestinians will be blessed with freedom")
Congradulation to Pakistanis in the province of Punjab. Someday Pakistanis in Karachi will also happily takes part in Future election. This time its was nightmare in karachi as far as election is concern, too many complains but no one seems to be disturbed.