Fatimah Tuz Zahra
Let’s go two years back when VONC put a halt to the former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s reign and party rule. The chaos and instability that resulted at that time saw no end in sight any time soon. Rather, it caused a ripple effect, the aftereffects of which still reverberate in time today.
Democracy is one of the most commonly used words when it comes to a country’s electoral process. The people are the backbone of a democratic state in any aspect. There should not and must not be any doubt about it. The turnout of voters is not only for the stats books but is also a direct reflection of the interest shown by the people in deciding their country’s way forward. Furthermore, it also reflects in a crystal clear manner how a country’s youth and eligible population believe and rely on the power of the vote.
The electoral environment was marred by the unfortunate incidents of blasts leaving casualties and later on by the overall network shutdown throughout the day and even after that. The morning of the 8th Feb saw long queues outside polling stations even before 8 am. The camps were active, polling agents were supposedly ready, international and national media recorded the massive turnout of the people, women were seen actively participating in the voting process,
So what was different on that special day?
The air.
The public held its breath but stayed vigilant and voted. We are not sure for how long this nation waited for this particular day, but they outrightly and outrageously went out to cast their votes. They were tired and torn, seemingly hopeless, but they voted.
In some constituencies, people were unaware of the name of the rival candidate, but they were well aware of the PTI-backed independent candidate and his/her symbol. The party, which is supposedly being run by social media keyboard warriors, well-relayed and well-communicated electoral symbols of its candidates using those platforms with the public. From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Punjab, Islamabad to Karachi, people stayed unprovoked and, with utmost confidence, stamped their thumbs on the symbols.
From sheep to the peacock, bowl to the dice, a bed to the donkey cart, a clock or tawa, a cot or baigan, people enhanced their vocabulary and learned all the possible nouns there were, but they voted those power symbols.
The turnout and then massive victory, according to Form 45 that are in possession of PTI-backed independent candidates, surpassing the winning credentials of 2018, was the result. We should never forget this fact: back in 2018, PTI had the likes of Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari, Shafqat Mehmood, Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Usman Dar, Parvez Khattak, Jahangir Khan Tareen, and what not. Almost three days back, in real-time, people used their right to vote and voted for the backup candidates in the majority of the constituencies.
Some constituencies still remain to be decided, but any household kid could tell the difference between form 45 and Form 47 now. The youth and the generation did not aim for bullseye by taking the shot in the air. They knew what they were aiming for. This was a well-accomplished, well-groomed, well-informed act by a nation that knew how to use its right to vote. Today, the victory undoubtedly and unforgivably belongs to the PTI-backed independent candidates, as per the stats from the Form 45 show. The mandate has been given. It is out in the public and on international forums. The party that has been banned, thrown out, stripped off of its major electoral symbol with a jailed leadership dragged on the streets, with no election campaigns, no gathering, only a mere hope emerged as victorious.
What is important for the authorities to figure out to what extent they’re to go further. Because the public response was quite evident. The youngsters who voted for a donkey cart or a baingan have started uploading form 45 in PDF on a website that is accessible to the whole world.
All the political discourse and agreements, all the discussions and arguments should not and must not distract us from the fact that it’s no longer about a particular group of people defending their banned party, but it’s about the nation that has given their mandate in a much-solidified manner than ever before.
Why is it a need every now and then to be reminded of the facets of democracy? It’s what the majority decides. But then again, you wake up and realize the country is no longer running on logic and facts. It’s a race and greed of power and ego. It’s a disappointment and disgrace to the constitution first and the nation later.
When was the last time intra-party elections underwent scrutiny than the general elections of Pakistan?
The independent democratic states are dependent on their people, after all, despite all the waves against them. The people are struggling, thriving, crumbling, yet trying their best to become a nation. And to vote is their basic right, and a fair and square election determines that fact. We need to digest this basic fact all the time, but it is quite vivid and loud today. The institutions have no other option but to accept and respect the mandate that a nation of 240 million people has given.
Fatimah Tuz Zahra
(I’m a graduate of King Edward Medical University. I love to read and write occasionally. I was the Sub-Editor of KEMCOL (Annual Magazine KEMU). My various English articles and poetry have been published in online print media. I also post blogs, poetry, book reviews, and articles on my WordPress site. I simply adore penning down my ideas and imagination on paper.
Twitter: @fatimahTZahra
Instagram: fatimahtuzzahra0)
Email: fatimatuzzahra749@gmail.com
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