Daily Times

Election campaigns in the developing world remain fraught with mudslinging, street metaphors and insults. It is this kind of behaviour from politicians which demoralises youngsters who aspire to become politicians. Luckily, Pakistan has found a decent future leader in Jibran Nasir.

Muhammad Jibran Nasir is a young gun with immense potential. He has changed the outlook of Pakistani politics via his ongoing campaign. He has refrained from slinging insults and abuse at his opponents. He has also not used the religion card like many other politicians who in a bid to garner support from the religious right forge agreements with banned groups. He downrightly refused to bow in front of the obscurantist elements and has stuck to his core ideology.

This is despite the fact that his opponents have tried to intimidate and distract him by riling up anti-Ahmadi sentiments. Some bigots have pushed him hard to abuse the group, but he refused out-and-out, his grounds being that there is no scripture requiring Muslims to use offensive language against people of other faiths or sects. Furthermore, he promoted issue based politics by encouraging a culture of debate with rival politicians.

Moreover, he suspended his election campaign for a day in solidarity with the martyrs of the Mastung blast. He visited Mastung himself. Previously, he also stood with disgruntled Pashtun youngsters when he participated in PTM’s rally in Karachi. It was the time when even the politically active members of Pashtun community couldn’t made it to the rally, but Jibran did. That was his greatest favour to Pashtuns.

Jibran has also unequivocally brought attention to problems like the water tanker mafia and electricity outages which Karachiites grapple with on a daily basis. Once he also protested about the occupied public spaces within the city

Apart from the election campaign, he remained very socially active. Whether it was the Shahzeb case or the Naqeebullah Mahsud case, he was at the forefront. Additionally, he has also voiced concern about the worsening law and order situation in the biggest city of the country. He called out the criminal mafias in Karachi, and stood against the MQM for causing ruckus when the latter ruled Karachi with an iron hand. He worked for peace by teaching people about the contours of inclusive society through his own acts. He stood with the weak and impoverished regardless of their creed, cast or social background.

To top it all, Jibran has also unequivocally brought attention toproblems like the water tanker mafia and electricity outages which Karachiites grapple with on a daily basis. Once he also protested about the occupied public spaces within the city.

To sum up, such conduct from a Pakistani politician is unprecedented, but Jibran does have it. Jibran has a very clear stance on all the social and national level conundrums we face. We are lucky to have him among us, especially the electorate of his constituency. By electing him to Parliament they would do a great favour to this country. Jibran is the need of the hour, because he is ‘one of us’.

The writer can be contacted at asifmahsud44@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, July 24^th 2018.