Pakistan tribesmen embrace historic polls
4 May AFP
Pakistan’s tribal belt may have been dubbed the world’s most
dangerous place by the United States, but enthusiastic tribesmen are
defying the Taliban to vote for change at next week’s polls.
More than 60 people have been killed in militant attacks targeting
politicians and political parties since April 11, but amazingly no one
in the seven districts that make up the semi-autonomous region on the
Afghan border.
One of the most remote and undeveloped parts of the country, the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) provide rear bases for the
Afghan Taliban, the Pakistani Taliban and other Al-Qaeda-linked groups.
But after years of army offensives designed to clear out Pakistani
Taliban hideouts, some of the 1.7 million registered voters in FATA say
they feel safe enough to vote and even that women, normally kept in
purdah, will vote.
For the first time political parties can campaign directly in FATA -a
reform introduced by the outgoing government in 2011 in an effort to
give tribesmen more of a stake in the country and curb militancy.
“People want change. They want a change in the system not just a
change of faces,” said Miraj Ali, a doctor who runs a clinic in the
village of Michni in the district of Mohmand.
Tribesmen in the districts of Mohmand, Khyber, Bajaur and North
Waziristan who spoke to AFP accused the outgoing government of doing
nothing to improve their lives and blamed it for fighting that has
displaced hundreds of thousands.
Instead they are looking to the religious parties, cricket star Imran
Khan, looking to make a political breakthrough at the May 11 polls, or
opposition leader Nawaz Sharif bidding for an historic third term.
“The two party leaders with the most support are Imran Khan and Nawaz
Sharif,” admitted Ali.
All main parties are visibly campaigning, but of the 339 candidates
competing for 12 national assembly seats from FATA, only 81 represent
parties -- the rest are officially independents, even if some privately
favour one party over another.Party flags fly from rooftops, shops and
markets. There are banners and posters everywhere. Despite Taliban
threats that democracy is unIslamic, candidates hold street meetings,
public rallies and open campaign offices.Life here is perhaps harder
than anywhere else. Power cuts can last as long as 21 hours, compared to
eight hours in the capital. Unemployment is rife. Schools have been
bombed by the militants. Literacy is poor.
People complain about the arcane system of justice imposed under
British-era laws and summary powers of arrest on weak terror charges.In
2007-8, most parts of Mohmand were under Taliban control until the
military went on the offensive in November 2008, flushing out the
militants but displacing thousands of families.
It is now largely peaceful but few people venture out after dark,
vividly remembering public beheadings and the Taliban era of fear.
“We will elect honest representatives in this election who will solve
such of our problems,” said school teacher Mohammad Shah, 43.
In neighbouring Khyber district, where the military is fighting the
Taliban and other homegrown militants, the campaign is also in full
swing, party flags flying high from shops and rooftops.
Many tribesmen are wearing party badges and insignia on their chests
with every second vehicle is festooned in posters, stickers or flags.
In the town of Jamrud, hundreds of people cram into the election
offices of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, Sharif’s
Pakistan Muslim League-N, the religious party Jamaat-e-Islami and the
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Many candidates serve meals -- rice with meat cooked in huge
cauldrons -- twice a day to supporters and offer cups of steaming green
tea.
“Our former representatives sold us in Islamabad. They were like
wolves. Now we want change, a revolution which eliminate all these
corrupt people,” said Raqeeb Ullah, 27, who works at a medical
store.Ullah believes Imran Khan, who publicly opposes military
operations and backs peace talks with the Taliban, is the man of the
moment.
“He has promised that he will end terrorism and provide education to
all. Imran is a Khan and a Pashtun, he has proved his worth,” he added.
In Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, the most notorious
of the tribal districts, gunmen abducted one candidate on Wednesday.
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