Few residents brave firing in Orangi to cast their votes

Political activists open fire at Shiraz Ahmed's polling station in Orangi Town, Karachi.

KARACHI:

Shiraz Ahmed, 31, was determined to cast his vote on Saturday morning despite the threats of an attack by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in Orangi Town. He was disappointed, however, when some political activists opened fire at his polling station and everyone was forced to disperse.

When Ahmed and his father reached Zulfiqar Public School in Qasba Colony, which falls under NA-242, activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Muttahida Deeni Mahaz opened fire and suspending the polling altogether, he said.

“My 70-year-old father was also with me and we hardly escaped,” he said, adding that polling resumed later on but no one had the courage to cast their votes. “I feel sorry because I did not get a chance to play my part in the formation of the government which will rule us for the next five years.”

Ahmed was unhappy with the security provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan. “My vote was registered in Qasba Colony No2.5 and I live in Shireen Jinnah Colony,” he pointed out. The two neighbourhoods are at least a 45-minute drive from each other.

A teashop owner in Shireen Jinnah Colony, Khalid Khan, was planning on taking his wife as well, but when they heard about the massive rigging and then the bomb blast in Islamia Colony, she decided to stay home. “She asked me not to go as well,” he said. Once he decided not to bother going to the polling station, he opened his teashop instead. “Why would I endanger my life for someone who will not even look after us for the next five years,” he said.

Rehan Shah, a 34-year-old resident of Sher Shah, was also among those who missed their chance. “I waited at the polling station from 3pm till polling ended,” he said, adding the school was too small and congested.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.