With slums accounting for more than 100,000 people, chances are that hopefuls contesting polls under AWP’s banner will tip scale in their favour
The slum areas in capital territory have made repeated headlines under the current government – sometimes once legalised areas are declared illegal, other times attempts are made to forcibly demolish homes. However, with the upcoming elections the people of the katchi abadis are opting to take matters into their own hands.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that local body elections would be held in 79 Union Councils (UC), each consisting of 13 members. June 25 will see an interesting mix of traditional parties, and some new faces.
Hopefuls from the slums will be running in the elections under the banner of the Awami Workers Party (AWP).
At a meeting in the Chargarh Colony area of the I-11 katchi abadi, Noor Muhammad gives a passionate speech about all the reasons he needs the people of the area to band together. “When they need us they come to us for our votes… and then when they get what they want we become illegal residents,” he cried.
“The discrimination is so strong that we weren’t sure if we would be allowed to contest, or if we would be shooed away once more and told that we’re ‘illegal people’,” he said.
“In the past our vote bank was stuffed with G-12. There are only 1,800 votes there, combined with our 4,000, the current Pakistan Muslim League – Noon (PML-N) government was able to get what they needed from us, and then discard us,” he said and then added, “But no more!”
“We won’t look to the past. We will not talk about the previous parties, PML-N, PTI, Jamat-e-Islami… and all the other big parties. They took our votes and forgot us,” Noor said. “We must now fight for ourselves. We are treated like half-humans. We have no water, no gas, no education – what do these governments give us?” he added.
“It’s a blessing that these polls are happening now. We don’t have to wait another five years for the government to shift – we can act now,” he said.
Another candidate, Shaukat Ali, has been living in the area since the last four decades. “My parents came here in 73 or 74,” he said. Shaukat works as a labourer in the nearby fruit market, like most others that live in the area.
“When the Capital Development Authority (CDA) shows up with their bulldozers, we all band together to try and save our homes – the election is but a small effort we can make,” he said wistfully.
Of course, trouble is far from over, as things stand the current elections have been challenged in the Islamabad High Court. Despite this, if the polls are allowed to proceed as per plans then people from the slums may have a chance. “I am hopeful that I will be able to do something substantial for my people,” Shaukat said.
“When Benazir Bhutto was alive we were living here and we were allowed to exist without much trouble. When she died, everything changed. Every government has a problem with us except for her. Even in Zardari’s rule we were only harassed once and then they left us alone – but this government is different, and that is why I have to run for office in these elections,” Shaukat said angrily.
Some are already suggesting that smaller parties might pack a bigger punch in the upcoming elections. The strong sense of community, combined with low voter turnout from the middle and upper class voters, could verily carry slum area candidates through.
“We stick together. There is no ill will or any kind of dislike or hatred between the people that live in our communities here. Punjabis and Pushtoons get along, share water and food, with no problem. If we go ahead together then we will win,” says Abdul Basit, another hopeful who will be running for the post of youth councillor in the upcoming elections.
The AWP has been rallying strong and hard to get people from these areas to come forward and fight for themselves. The women are not left behind either. Sardaro Bibi, an influential elder from the G-8 Miskeen Colony, has been trying to help mobilise the women.
“Just a few years ago she had the strength of 10 men and would drag the women out to stand against bulldozers, or hold rallies, but now she’s old and wants to push others forward in her place,” informed Abdul Basit.
“I’m old and unwell,” Sardaro Bibi said, “But I will make sure the other women step up to their duties,” she added. “We are self sufficient people. The government takes away our electricity and water and we find ways to make do… these elections will be no different,” she asserted.
The ECP has reported that there are 620,165 voters, of which 334,577 are men and 285,588 are women. There is a strong chance that candidates representing the slums could edge their way into a seat, and ergo find their own voice in the current democratic framework. The slum areas in capital territory account for more than 100,000 people, and while not all of them may be voters, they do make up a substantial enough chunks to tip the scale in their favour.
