Daily Times

Pakistan votes tomorrow. I am not going to write about who one should vote for. Neither would I use this space to share with readers who I would ‘give my life for so that the person can lead’. Neither is this scribble of mine intended to be an emotional call for the shaheeds, mullahs, the lions or the batsmen. I would also not like to get into the game of results predictions for it reminds me of a Russian diplomat quoted by Stephen Cohen: “I don’t know where Pakistan is heading but once it gets there, I will let you know why it was inevitable.” I write today for a reason.

Looking at my young colleagues, I realize that May 11, 2013 already is a social game changer. It is ironic that I work on political reforms in Pakistan but perhaps lead the most apolitical team of employees. Commenting on Balochistan, a young colleague stated, “Balochistan is no longer relevant. It will break away from Pakistan. It is a non-issue.” I asked him when this decision was made and who made it. Dismissing my mumblings and it seems Balochistan too, he implored me to focus on design rather than content. Another young colleague, a passionate supporter of a political party whose opponents accuse it of accepting ISI nominations for party candidates declares, “I don’t know if it is true but even if it is, what’s the big deal? Why can’t the ISI nominate someone for a party ticket? The ISI is part of the country.” I am still reeling from the shock.

It is these young men and women who are making plans as I write this to vote. Where will they meet up, who is going to hitch a ride with who, and most importantly, who will motivate the minority who is planning to just sleep on Election Day? This is what I am hearing all around me. While my cynical, experienced political friends will undoubtedly pen-prick the political ideology of these young people, or as a friend says, “shudder at the thought of having apolitical civilians with fauji disdain for politics vote”, this is irrelevant. What is relevant is that this demographic is now going to be a part of Pakistan’s political process. I have communicated with other young and old Pakistanis who used to proudly dismiss politics. In fact, politicians were their favourite punching bags. These are the people who, in the past, would eagerly watch the election coverage on the idiot box and discuss the results at their dinner tables. Their thumbs would be clean but hands dirty with political apathy.

Whether they have been inspired, mobilised or they are doing it out of frustration (as now the divide between the haves and have-nots is blurring). Poor governance has started to affect the middle class and the rich too rather than only the poor. The fact remains that this demographic is invested in the election run up. If this engagement translates into actual increase in the voter turnout, it is at least to me a bonus. The fact that the middle class has put up party flags on their roof tops, on their cars, are active on social media and have been able to sustain this momentum up till now is a new phenomenon.

I am convinced that the young and old from this lot will also vote tomorrow. This already is a game changer. Not only will they vote tomorrow but will motivate and even pressurise peers to vote.

While this demographic will vote tomorrow, I think of the Pakistanis who are Ahmadis. They want to be part of the political process but they are not. The Ahmadis are Pakistan’s Dalits, the untouchables. No political party wants to even think about engaging them let alone represent them. As The Guardian headlined, “The 4m votes no one wants.” The belief of the residents of Rabwah is inconsequential when it comes to political participation and representation. The Rabwah residents are not foreigners. They are Pakistanis and conditions have been created to disenfranchise them. In an environment where they are being persecuted, when their graveyards are being maligned and attacked, for the Election Commission of Pakistan to print a separate list of Ahmedias in Pakistan is like printing a target list for the militants. Instead of providing them protection as citizens of the country, conditions have been created to make them vulnerable. Such is their untouchability status that in the election run-up, accusations over who asked for their votes were being hurled and voraciously denied. Are all citizens of Pakistan treated equally if politically it is considered an accusation that one asked for political support from a community? Meanwhile there are at least 55 candidates who have proven links and memberships of proscribed militant organisations. It is said that Voltaire on his deathbed was urged by a Catholic priest to denounce the devil. Voltaire replied, “This is no time to create new enemies.” Political pundits suggest that not too much should be read into this, and perhaps parties are taking a page out of Voltaire’s book and not creating new enemies. However, then is it logical to conclude that the parties who conform to this extent would also maintain the status quo on militancy, corruption, persecution of non-Muslim Pakistanis and poor governance?

When you go out to vote tomorrow, ask yourself what am I voting for rather than who am I voting for. A country is as new or old as the thoughts and actions of its people. We have lost 45,000 people in the fight against militancy.

I implore you to reason with yourself before you vote. What am I voting for? For militancy or against militancy? Whether for a weakening or strengthening of the preamble of the Constitution of Pakistan, ‘authority exercised by the people of Pakistan and whereas it is the will of the people of Pakistan’. We have been emotionally blackmailed for decades on various pretexts ranging from social services (roti, kapra, makan) to shaheeds (martyrs), Asian tiger, religion and a new order. When you go out to vote tomorrow, leave your emotions and take reason along with you. The pre-election run-up was a social game changer. For May 11 to be a political game changer, reason with yourself. Forget what kind of Pakistan Jinnah or Iqbal wanted. They are dead. You are not. Vote with reason. Follow up with passion.

If you do not, then May 12 might be just another day and the days before the election only the hype about Manto’s New Constitution.

The writer is a development consultant. She tweets at @GulminaBilal and can be reached at coordinator@individualland.com