For the love of politicians: Old-timers undeterred by scorching sun as they wait to vote

Supporters of PPP, PTI in Mohallah Rati come out in support of their parties.

PESHAWAR:

The inconvenience of having to stand in line for hours in the suffocating heat of a polling station did not deter some party workers, in spite of their age, as they went to elect their local government representatives.

In Mohallah Rati, 75-year-old Malik Muhammad Ikram arrived at his polling station around 9am to exercise his democratic right. Because of the long line of voters who had arrived before him, he had to wait till 11am before he got his chance to stamp the ballot paper. He did not mind the wait.

A staunch supporter of Pakistan Peoples Party, Ikram himself has served at the grass-roots level three times. He was elected councillor from Karimpura in 1979, 1983 and 1987; on Saturday he came out in support of his party.

“I voted for my leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. I may be an old man now, but I was always a worker of PPP and will remain one till my last breath,” he said.

According to Ikram, all seven votes of his family were cast in favour of PPP.

“These days, people are not happy with PPP and its performance and I am no exception. I have many reservations too, but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a true leader and I will always admire and support him,” he said. Ikram added he could have easily chosen to stay at home but he decided to come out and support his party instead.

‘Time for change’

Syed Ahmed Awan, 64, from the same constituency was as enthusiastic about the polls as the three-time councillor. The only difference was that Awan had come out to support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the ruling party in the province.

“We have seen all other political parties fail to deliver on their promises. Like so many others, I too now support PTI for the sake of bringing a real change in the country,” said the Mohallah Rati resident. Awan was hopeful that his party would have a clean sweep in the polls.

“It is time for a change. I have lived my life, the good and the bad, but I want a much better Pakistan for my future generations,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2015.