Choosing their leaders: Castes, professions being invoked

Groups battling it out in the Gymkhana annual elections are using their castes (baradris), not political affiliations

LAHORE: The two groups battling it out in the Gymkhana annual elections, 2011 are using their castes (baradris), not political affiliations, to convince members to vote for them this year, a number of Gymkhana members told The Express Tribune.

Mian Misbahur Rehman, an Arain, is heading one group while Ziaur Rehman, the leader of the second panel is a Rajput by caste.

The elections will be held today.

The voting will start at 9 am and continue until 5 pm without a break at the Gymkhana under the supervision of an election commission that comprises three retired high court judges.

Last year around 1,800 club members exercised their right to vote.

This year, the number is expected to be 2,000, according to one member who talked to the Tribune.

A senior member of the club, requesting anonymity, said that during the election campaign, apart from baradris, the candidates had tried to cash in on vocational solidarity with the voters.

“It is horrible that the candidates are using their castes and profession to secure votes at an elite club where all the members are highly educated,” he remarked. When asked who he supported, he replied, “There should be a change. New people should be given a chance to serve the club.”

The senior member also said that the outgoing Committee of Management (of the Misbah group) had granted permanent membership [which entails right to vote] to about 700 people, “which can prove to be an election clincher”.

A supporter of the Misbah group dispelled the notion that there had been a political motivation behind the granting of permanent memberships. “The membership was granted on merit,” he maintained. Misbah refused to comment on the issue, responding with only the comment, “It was decided that press should not be involved in club affairs.”

Rehman vs Rehman

Misbahur Rehman, the current chairman who is hoping for re-election, is a prominent businessman.

Along with a large number of business tycoons of the city, a number of Arians who are club members are supporting him.

Out of a total of 12 candidates who form what has come to be known as the Misbah panel, five are members of the outgoing Committee of Management (CoM) 2010.

Ziaur Rehman is a retired civil servant. In addition to Rajput members, he enjoys the support of many serving and retired bureaucrats.

Out of the 12 candidates in the Zia panel, nine are contesting for the first time for seats on the Committee of Management.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2010.