The transgender candidate for PS-1, Sanam Fakir, at her office in Sukkur. PHOTO: FILE
When Sanam Fakir decided to contest for a Sindh Assembly seat, she made history by being the first transgender person in Pakistan to do so.
A media storm followed. Some said that her decision to contest was already a big win for the rights of transgender persons across the country. Nonetheless, there was a hint of disappointment in Sanam’s voice after the results for PS-1 - the seat she was vying for - were announced.
Sanam had been assured of full support by quite a few people. Augmenting her popularity was the fact that she was not wealthy and ran a welfare organisation, Sanam Fakir Welfare Association, with financial support from philanthropists.
She had become so popular that different political parties who had their eyes on the same provincial assembly seat started propaganda against her. Right up to polling day, rumours floated that she was going to step out of the race as she accepted huge sums of money from other candidates and parties. Some mocked Sanam while others cheered her on with the rhetoric of change.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Sanam said, “I knew very well that it was an uphill task to win while competing against experienced politicians who have been in the field since decades.” She added she feels people want a change, but are afraid of sending new people in the parliament.
“It seems they are happy with same old faces who promise them a positive change. But when old players come to power, they only look after their own interests,” she said. “I am thankful to those who voted for me. I’m also happy that I have received 940 votes - the highest among independent candidates here.”
Sharing his bitter experience in politics, renowned Sindhi Singer Shaman Ali Mirali, who was contesting for a National Assembly and provincial assembly seat, said he felt out of his depth in the political arena. “I was new in this field and therefore knew nothing about the pros and cons of politics.” He added that he was totally dependent upon his friends, who encouraged him to throw his name in the hat. “Being an artist, I have been gifted with a soft heart and when I saw people leading miserable lives I decided to contest the elections. I wanted to solve their problems.”
Mirali was vying for NA-199, the seat Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah won by a massive margin. Mirali had also decided to go up against Shah’s son-in-law Syed Awais Qadir Shah for PS-4 in Sukkur. Here too, PPP’s candidate managed to secure the lion’s share of votes - 54 per cent of the pie.
“At first many people came to me, offering money and the post of adviser if I withdrew. But I remained steadfast,” said Mirali. “I used to randomly visit villages without a plan and believe me, a large number of people used to gather to listen to me.”
For him, contesting for the seats has come with social costs too. “With the passage of time, my friends started distancing themselves from me and I was left with only a few. I don’t know if people were under pressure or if there were other reasons for them leaving me.”
Mirali said that he has at least walked away with a couple of lessons from the experience. “Politics is a bundle of lies. It’s a world of hypocrisy,” he said. “But I’m happy I was able to see real faces of people who claimed to love and adore me. I know people love me, but only as a singer and not politician.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2013.
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