Electioneering begins: Famed ‘political training centre’ comes alive

Campaigning for LB elections slowly beginning.

RAWALPINDI:

In the busy Bhabra Bazaar area, Lal Haveli has again become a centre for political hustle bustle as electioneering for the local government elections gains momentum.

The haveli, owned by Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, has been the centre of politics for last three decades is preparing to play a prominent role in after making alliance with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami. “To call it a political school would not be off the mark, as Sardar Naseem, Shakeel Awan and Shehreyar Khan are among the politicians who later won elections on PML-N tickets after being groomed by Sheikh Rasheed,” said Raja Mukhtar, a shopkeeper in the bazaar.

The ‘political training centre’ has been again adorned with posters and banners of prospective candidates, and as a member of the political old guard, Ahmed has already begun seat adjustments with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“The chairman and vice chairman in NA-55 will be ours, while the Awami Muslim League (AML) will support [PTI and JI] in other union councils across the city,” said Ahmed’s nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, a former Rawal Town nazim.

“He started his career as councilor in 1983 and knows the mood of people in the local government elections, where voters mostly cast their votes on tribal or familial lines,” said 60-year old Dr Rahmat Satti, a local resident.

A recent petition he filed against an increase in number of union councils, which was accepted by the court and the decision reversed by the district government, is being touted as his first victory in the elections.

Grievances against PML-N

Though the PML-N is the ruling party in the province as well as the centre, a general grievance is prevailing among citizens against the party, especially after funds allocated for the Urology Center and National Technical Institute were diverted to other projects, which opponents claimed was punishment for voting in PTI and AML candidates.

“Thousands voted PML-N. Even if they could not get the ticket holder over the line, it doesn’t mean you divert uplift funds allocated for the city,” said Prof Usman, a college teacher.  Besides, he said, people know that approving funds ahead of local government elections is an attempt to trick them.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2013.