Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz followers of all ages competed good-naturedly all day at NA-122 on Saturday to demonstrate support for their parties.
A five-year-old wrapped in a PTI flag walked to a PML-N camp in Samanabad and gave running commentary on the elections, holding a stick to his mouth as if it were a microphone.
“Uncle, who do you think will win?” he said to an elderly PML-N supporter, pretending to be a television reporter. “Go ask the people at the PTI camp,” grumbled the elderly voter, not amused.
A PML-N supporter complained that the PTI camps were artificially made to look busier and more popular. “There are lot of women there because for every voter, there are three others just there to give her company. They’re trying to create the impression that they have a lot of support, but it’s a ruse,” said Khalil Ahmad, a PML-N voter.
“PML-N is just jealous. Most young people and women are voting for PTI,” said Saira Khan, a PTI supporter.
Some kids in Samanabad roamed the streets wearing clothes resembling tiger hides. Tiger pictures and dolls were also displayed in or on several cars. Groups of supporters for both sides also sang party songs at each other.
“This is a good thing for democracy,” said Malik Naeem, an elderly voter. “It’s called election fever. Some will win and others will lose, but ultimately it is a victory for democracy.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2013.