“I support PTI. I don’t support its supporters.”

“I support PTI. I don’t support its supporters.”

Posted on May 13, 2013

 By Parisa Siddiqi

Everyone is aware of the electoral problems of NA 250 in Karachi and my polling station at DHA girls college phase 8 had similar problems where polling didn’t start till 12:30 pm. I arrived there with my family at 7:45 am and expected to be done earlier but when there was no news of the ballot boxes till 10 am, we decided to go for breakfast and then come back later.

While we were having breakfast and devising our plan for the day, a family came and sat next to us and their young daughter was proudly sporting an Imran Khan kurta. The girl’s mother who looked like a sensible lady turned to us and asked us whether we had voted yet or not. We told her we were still waiting. Then without a moment of hesitation, she asked us, “Who are you voting for?” Her husband looked embarrassed and in a meek voice pointed to her that she shouldn’t ask that. I guess he understood it was inappropriate. But she ignored him and continued to look at us waiting for an answer clearly not understanding her intrusion. My mother politely said, “That’s a very personal question” and hoped that would be the end of it. Like all “aunties” in our culture she did not have any boundaries either. She continued to insist, “No, but still?” We all looked uncomfortably at each other and again trying to be polite yet give her the hint, my cousin said, “everyone is voting for different people on this table.” We really thought she would shut up now. She still insisted, “No but still… who is the majority voting for?” Understanding that she would not give up without an answer and we would not be able to get back to our breakfast till we answered her, we hesitantly said, “PTI, MQM and Jibran Nasir.” She looked confused. In regards to the last choice she said, “Who’s that?” I said, “An independent candidate.” She was clearly not impressed. She finally gave up and stopped harassing us.

We went back to our polling station around 3 pm and got in line to vote again. I had been reading various articles that no cell phones would be allowed and was going through voting ethics and other rules and regulations as I was a first time voter. I learned that one is not supposed to wear badges, flags or any accessories that represents any political party, there would be no chanting of any party’s name, no canvassing, no-one should ask the other person who they plan to vote for or even try to tell another person who to vote for as it can influence decisions.

As I entered, there was no checking of cell phones to my pleasant surprise so I thought I could keep in touch with my husband as he was in a separate line. And then I was taken aback when I saw there were so many people in Imran Khan kurtas and PTI flags.

There was constant discussion of who to vote for and women telling each other, “You must vote for the balla.” It somehow made me uncomfortable just because I had always been lukewarm about voting for PTI and I never appreciated people not respecting my decision and trying to imply that I was incapable of making the correct decision if I didn’t vote for PTI. I had my reasons but had no intentions of getting into any discussions with anyone as I strongly believe in respecting every one’s right to their own choice. But since PTI voters were in majority they were fearless in expressing their choice and comfortable in trying to convert others as well.

As we got closer to the polling desk, I heard heated voices break out between two women. As there are workers from various parties, there was a woman from MQM as well who had been trying to manage things helpfully and amicably like all others. But suddenly I saw her screaming and later I learned that there was a PTI voter who had already voted and now she was standing there telling everyone to vote for the “Balla”. The PTI volunteers were encouraging this. The woman said that she had been seeing this happen all day and no-one was stopping anyone from doing this. She insisted that, “this was wrong and what kind of elections are these. Why the hell are we here if you just have to turn a blind eye to all of it?” I completely understood her frustration. But to my utter shock, some women in front of me reacted by screaming, “So why shouldn’t she do it? She is doing the right thing.” Another woman responded casually, “So what, it’s not like she would change anyone’s mind. Everyone has decided who they are voting for.” My question to them would be that if this would have been an MQM supporter telling everyone to vote for the “Patang”or PPP insisting to vote for the “teer”, would their reactions have been the same then? I’m sure it would be considered outright harassment.  

This was not as aggressive as what was happening at other polling stations but how was this any different? I may be being harsh but to me it was a more refined way of rigging. You are outright trying to influence voters which is ethically wrong, not to mention illegal as well. I understand one supports their party but to be so ignorant and incapable of understanding what you are doing wrong was incomprehensible by me. This was Defence, the so-called elite and educated class who usually believe they are better than the rest of Karachi. More so, majority being PTI supporters who immediately think they are better than the supporters of other parties. Yet it did not reflect in their behavior.

3 and half hours later when I met my husband, he told me similar things were going on in the polling station next to ours. People who already voted stood around and as every voter that came out, they asked them who they voted for, and if the reply was “Balla” they started cheering and chanting, encouraging more people to vote for the bat. This all happened in front of the PTI representatives but no-one actually stopped them as it could instigate problems which it inevitably did. The MQM representatives and supporters had enough. This resulted in the famous incident at the polling station where six to seven boys barged in that created a panic. People said that they came to scare voters while others said they came to steal ballot boxes. That may have been true but it started from here. The boys were eventually beaten up by the rangers and taken away where a couple of them managed to get away.

I am not defending what the boys did but neither can I defend the PTI supporters who were outright disrespecting the rules and regulations of the electoral process. The thought process that since it was happening in support of PTI, it was alright. I am sorry. It isn’t. Rules and regulations apply to each and everyone in the same manner and isn’t that what the PTI manifesto represents? There is a clear distinction between right and wrong and if one thinks that they have a ticket to do it just because of the party they believe in and the fact that they were in majority there so they can get away with anything, then they are no different from the MQM karkuns or the PPP jiyalas.

The next day there were protests against the rigging of elections. People were outraged and rightly so as their right to vote had been hijacked. I respect each and every individual who went out there. I don’t personally agree that something that should have been represented as a national problem was again being seen solely as a PTI problem. However, PTI supporters being in majority, they easily dominated the scene with Imran Khan chants. However, I learned from someone present at the protest that he also witnessed signs that had abuses against Altaf Hussain and the party written on it and many chanted the same.

I understand the anger but in a volatile situation, this was simply irresponsible. This was surely going to provoke something major and anyone living in Karachi for a while should have enough common sense to realize that. What Mr. Altaf Hussain said in response was something insane on a whole other level. This just went to show how emotions can aggravate an already bad situation. If this was a protest against the general problem of rigging then every single party was being accused from PML-N to MQM to even PTI. Yet this seemed as a war within Karachi. The Insaafians against the Muttahidas. In Lahore, PTI supporters clashed with PML-N, both showing themselves as the victims later on. It really felt like this protest lost its focus along the way. I truly hope that other protests that take place will be conducted with more dignity and people will manage to stick to the point.

Facebook was flooded with posts and videos of other rigging incidents. The reaction was rightfully harsh until a video popped up where  a PTI candidate in Multan was being accused of rigging. I was expecting an uproar, instead there was silence. Maybe it’s the same disbelief that I had. But after the moment of shock I want to ask PTI the same questions others are being asked. Even if there is one percent chance of this video being true, I want answers. Instead people are calling it a fake video and a conspiracy against Imran Khan. Why does he deserve this benefit of the doubt?

Imran Khan is already being accused of filling his party with questionable candidates that belonged to other parties in the past. If this candidate, Al Haaj Saeed Ahmed Qureshi, is under suspicion and the video clearly shows he is looking at the ballot papers that are being stamped which is also illegal, then he should be investigated and PTI supporters should insist and protest that if these allegations are true then he should be disqualified from the party. And now ANP has also protested that they suspect rigging in KPK by PTI. This should be treated just as seriously.

Moreover, Dr. Arif Alvi’s revelation of having 6 stamps that he showed on Dawn news back fired as Mr. Raza Haroon questioned him that how did he get a hold of those stamps. And even if he had them why had they not been turned into the police as evidence?  I am not saying that this accusation against him is true but perhaps he should have been more sensible in going about it and not have such an accusation come his way.

PTI candidates were also accused by other parties and caught on camera that they were seen canvassing outside the polling stations which is grounds for disqualification.

Unfortunately it is such acts by the candidates themselves that brings criticism upon the party and they are called inexperienced and immature. Mr. Hassan Nisar candidly stated in his analysis on Geo’s show that, “PTI mein josh hee josh tha aur PML-N mein hosh hee hosh.”  However, he points out the strength of PTI and he is happy that they have emerged as a much needed third party. This will be the first time they will be sitting in the parliament as a strong opposition party and this will give them the experience they require and an opportunity to put their capabilities to test.

Ultimately, it is usually the party members and the supporters that tarnish the party reputation. I hope PTI supporters will understand that joining protests, chanting and screaming is not the only way to support a party. When you drape a flag over your shoulder, you also bear the responsibility of upholding its reputation. I fear that the same mentality is taking over the PTI supporters who will turn a blind eye to even the wrong doings of PTI just because the level of support or the so-called spirit that runs so high. Honestly, that is not helping the party nor the country. It simply means turning it into yet another popular party with the same irrational “karkuns” where emotions and “josh” cloud sensible judgment. How can you expect the country to change when you are not willing to change yourself?