Deplorable: Residents of NA-49 abandoned, forgotten

PML-N representative fast losing support in constituency.

ISLAMABAD: The living conditions in some of the rural areas of the federal capital scream of official neglect and lack of governmental concern.

In the NA-49 Islamabad constituency, residents of areas such as Ashraf Town are managing without most basic amenities of life.

These areas lack sewerage systems, gas supply, water filtration plants, paved streets and basic recreational facilities such as playgrounds and a post office.

The streets are also unmarked, making it difficult for people unfamiliar with the area to navigate through.

These areas fall within the constituency of Member National Assembly Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The two-time incumbent has held the seat for the past seven years.

Ashraf Town has lacked a sewerage system and gas supply since its foundation. Unpaved streets make it difficult for residents of Old Kuri Road in Pindorian to walk or drive during and after rainfall. Clogged drains regularly flood the area, further hindering movement.

In the muddy streets, motorcyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable and often end up slipping and causing damage to life and property.

A fenceless bridge over a stream, which connects the area with the highway, is another cause of concern as a large number of schoolchildren, among others, use it daily, and even slight negligence can lead to loss of life.

In the absence of a post office, and with houses and streets not numbered, residents are compelled to collect their utility bills and mail from various shops in the area.

The situation has apparently united the residents, mostly comprising of PML-N workers and supporters, against their own party, especially Dr Chaudhary, for failing to deliver on their promises.

“If things remain the way they are, Dr Chaudhary will not get any support from party workers in the next elections,” residents said while shielding themselves from the dust at Old Kuri Road.

“Some of us were polling agents for Chaudhary, while many others campaigned and voted for him. Now he lives in a farmhouse and we have this mess,” said former polling agent Malik Naveed.

PML-N workers and supporters Ahmer Malik, Farrukh Abbasi, Ahsanul Haq and others, seconded Naveed.

A number of passersby expressed similar views.

The constituency is also the hometown of the MNA, who has been enjoying perks and privileges for the last many years, they said, adding that Chaudhary lives nearby but chooses to go to parliament via Park Road.

Apart from election season and the odd funeral, residents said, “He never visits the area to solve problems or even offer reasons for his inability to do so.” The residents said not a single month had gone by when they had not informed the MNA about their problems, but all in vain.

During the previous Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s term in the centre, Dr Chaudhary kept claiming that he was not given funds for development projects, but “what excuse can he give now?” the residents asked.

A die-hard supporter of Chaudhary, however, asked residents what development projects were completed during the tenures of previous governments. “They did not do anything, so why just blame Chaudhary,” he said.

After a lively shouting match, the PML-N workers and supporters ended up agreeing that the limited development that did come in the area was during the Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s era.

Ironically, the MNA at the time was the man Chaudhry beat in the 2008 elections — incumbent Senate chairman Nayyar Bukhari.

Dr Chaudhary told The Express Tribune that the prime minister has assured him that a ‘rural development package’ would be approved, after which development projects including sewerage system and gas supply lines would start in the whole constituency. Chaudhary said he was also in touch with the local government to get streets and roads paved.

“Work depends on the availability of funds. An MNA cannot spend from his own pocket,” he said, adding that he was not given funds during PPP tenure and the incumbent PM was expected to approve the package in four to six months. He added that he regularly visits the constituency and would soon visit Pindorian.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2015.