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| India-Pakistan |
| Anger in Youhanabad |
| 2015-10-13 |
| [DAWN] THE city is awash with election fervour: banners stretch from pole to pole and posters have been pasted on empty spaces. But in Youhanabad even seven months after the horrendous kabooms and public lynching incidents, there is little excitement. If anything, there are mixed feelings and signs of vengeful resentment rather than excited anticipation. Youhanabad and its adjoining Christian-majority areas including Asif Town, Esa Nagar and Hamza Town have several panels contesting the upcoming local government elections. But political action is reduced to corner meetings. It is apparent that while Shahbaz Sharif ...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab... won from this constituency earlier, this time Youhanabad residents have 'boycotted' the PML-N, and most refuse to vote for them. Hence, there is a flood of 'independent' candidates and panels. This is a much better response than boycotting the election itself, like so many parties do. So that's a good start. "Youhanabad residents are angry with the PML-N for ignoring their concerns especially as non-Muslims," says Javed who runs a local pharmacy. "Looking back at the Punjab 1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard 2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers 3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots.... government's past it is always under Sharif rule that Christians have suffered most and in terrible ways." He refers to several incidents including the Gojra massacre, the Shantinagar episode, and more recently the Joseph Colony, Kot Radha Kishan and Youhanabad incidents. "We voted for the PML-N last time but absolutely no work has been done here with regard to job creation and basic facilities," says housewife Mrs Aazim. I don't think the Christians are the brightest sector of population in Pakistain. PML-N stands for Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz. It's not "Pakistain Municipal League" or "Pakistain Motorists' League." What'd they think they were gonna get? Regarded as equal citizens? The majority of the population in the Union Councils (UCs) of these Christian-majority areas (UC-245 and 246) comprise factory workers, who were reportedly sacked after the terrorist incident in March. Resident Tanvir Akhtar says the victorious independent candidates are expected to ally themselves with the PML-N later. And the voters know that? They're voting for false mustaches and eyeglasses? In that case they deserve the govt they get. "The so-called lions dare not show their faces here for campaigning," he asserts. "PML-N candidates have been threatened with social ostracisation by the residents. So now they are running independently." Dumbasses. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Youhanabad...day... |
| Posted by: JHH 2015-10-13 15:59 |