Independent Urdu Election Coverage: Highlights from Khyber to Karachi

There is a quote attributed to US President James Buchanan that ‘I love the noise of democracy.’ Elections are being held in Pakistan today, before which there was a lot of noise in the country.

This is Pakistan’s first general election since the launch of British news website The Independent’s Urdu service in 2019, in which The Independent Urdu brought important news as well as interesting features and videos to users from Khyber to Karachi.

Below are some important news from Independent Urdu’s election coverage.

A unique candidate

In Pakistani society, it is not common for women to contest elections on public seats. Independent Urdu focused on such women who are taking on male competitors on the common ground.

Bisarat Shinwari is standing on the ticket of Pakistan Muslim League-N in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly seat PK 94 from Tehsil Landi Kotal of Khyber district, a tribal area.

Speaking to Independent Urdu, she said: ‘When I leave the house for political activities, I leave the children with my in-laws, but I stay at home not as an MPA, but like other women of Shenwari village.’

In 2018, the mother of two children, Bisarat, has been a member of the provincial assembly for the first time on the reserved seat of the tribal districts.

Dr. Sveera Prakash from the Hindu community is the first woman to contest the election on the provincial general seat PK-25 from Buner. He was given the ticket by the People’s Party.

Khawajsara Nayab Ali is an independent candidate from Islamabad seat NA 46 and 47. Their election symbol is green chillies and they expect respect and acceptance from the society.

Women, religious minorities and prisoners

Independent Urdu also published special reports on electoral representation of downtrodden classes.

There are laws in the country to ensure the right of women to vote, but in some areas they are left out of voting for one reason or another.

In Balochistan alone, about eight lakh adult women do not have identity cards. These women will not be able to use the right to vote in the election even if they want to.

Similarly, in many areas of the country, men forcibly deprive women from voting.

Half a century ago in Dharnal village, 200 km from Islamabad, the elders of the area decided that women would not vote in the future due to a minor dispute at a polling station.

Pakistani citizens imprisoned in prisons also have the right to vote and the Election Act 2017 gives prisoners the right to vote through ballots, however, due to the complexity of the procedure, not a single prisoner could cast his vote in 2018.

The principle of separate election is not applicable for religious minorities in Pakistan. That is, the religious minorities in any constituency can vote for the general candidate only.

Minorities are represented on specific seats in provinces and federations, but political parties and not minority communities decide who will come to these seats.

In such a situation, the Hindu community of Turbat district of Balochistan wants that the principle of separate elections should be restored for them.

Around 1,500 families of the Sikh community in Balochistan are upset that they have not been represented in the provincial legislature since the reign of Nawab Akbar Bugti (70s).

Important light and interesting election contests

Interesting contests are expected in many circles of the country today. Independent Urdu correspondents visiting such constituencies reported the political excitement.

Rehana Dar Vs Khawaja Asif

Maryam Nawaz’s constituency where encroachments are rampant.

Imran Khan’s native constituency

People’s Party’s Jayala in Lahore will vote for the third generation of the Bhutto family.

Balochistan Assembly Constituency where father and son are facing each other.

Special series

Independent Urdu also presented two special series for Election 2024.

Interviews of important political leaders were aired in Manzil Islamabad.

Exclusive interview of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Interview with Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan

Parvez Elahi’s wife Qaisara Elahi’s interview

Interview with MQM chief Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui

In the same series, Haroon Rasheed, Senior Journalist and Managing Editor associated with Independent Urdu held two sessions with analysts and journalists in which there was a detailed discussion on the election and the possible political situation after it.

In ‘Election Rail Rail’, Independent Urdu correspondents traveled by train from Peshawar to Karachi and tried to report the ‘election atmosphere’ of important cities and citizens on the train.

Rap song

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf could not be allotted the symbol of ‘bat’ due to litigation in Election 2024. Therefore, independent leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaf were allotted various election symbols.

A young rapper also sang a special rap song for Independent Urdu on these election signs.