As I have no political loyalty, the big question for me was who to vote for? I was still wondering as I walked to the polling station, the same where I cast my vote in the general elections. I was still undecided as they checked my bonafides, took a thumb print, painted an ink line across the finger, handed me a rubber stamp and ballot paper. Standing in the booth I thought I would let the old selection method from childhood called tick-tack-toe-round-I-go-if-I-miss-I-take-this decide. Then I changed my mind. Hey, since I do not know any candidate, why not vote blind? So I closed my eyes and jabbed at what I thought was the ballot paper. My finger was nowhere on the paper, it was at the edge of the table. Then I decided I would vote for an Independent candidate instead of a political party fellow. One symbol pleased me and I stamped the ballot paper, folded it and put it in the box. It may seem I took a long time deciding, but it took less time than you will have spent reading this paragraph.
The voter turnout was thin, but on the faces of all who had turned up to vote or to back up the candidates there was pride. We denizens of cantonments were at last being treated like citizens, were to be allowed (condescendingly) to have some say in the affairs affecting the quality of life (power and water shortage for instance). Conversing with some acquaintances I met outside Ward-4 polling station, it was clear people were happy but not overjoyed. There was realisation the local bodies poll had given some concession to civilians living in cantonments but the military had done so with great reluctance.
The LB polls in cantonments were being held after a gap of 17 years, to be followed, soon, it is hoped by LB polls in the rest of the country, beginning with KP in May. In Karachi the cantonment LB polls have a special and greater significance than in other cities of the province. There are eight cantonment boards in Sindh: one each in Hyderabad and Pano Aqil and six in Karachi. As such, Karachi is more of a military zone than a civilian place. This explains why, despite a powerful political commitment to the MQM and PPP, the people of this city never manage to get their support translated into better deals in living. The parties have been able to excuse their inability to provide services, and fulfill election promises in Karachi by blaming the cantonment boards which control the lion's share of city space.
When there is an elected council in each locality it becomes easier to get things done, than under the present system in which one deputy commissioner administers an entire district. Accountability is virtually nil of deputy commissioners, as it is of the majors and brigadiers running the cantonment boards in the city.
That after a gap of 17 years local body polls were held in 42 of the country's 43 cantonments is thanks to the apex court, which coerced the government as well as the cantonment boards to hold the LB polls. But the poll has not really helped to reduce the hold of the military. In the cantonment ordinance the station commander has extraordinary powers, which allow him to appoint as many unelected members as there are elected members. He also has vote power.
The fear is that even though the military conceded to local bodies polls in the cantonments, it intends to still "call the shots". So there will be no sympathy for civilian problems.
Undoubtedly, the thin turnout of voters show too many people think the LB polls in cantonments will not make any difference, so why bother to vote? The trouble is majority of people want a quick fix to every problem, and they want it delivered without themselves working for it. The polls may not make a significant change at the moment, but if the exercise continues regularly, after every three or (is it) four years it is bound to strengthen the civilian content of cantonment boards who can then use their clout to get rid of inequities in the cantonment ordinance. Not voting helps those who do not need the vote that is the military, in this case. You will have already read the MQM is in position to secure the post of vice president in two city cantonments, namely Cantonment Board Faisal and Cantonment Board Karachi. In the other boards alliance are being formed for the VP post. Here is where one wishes political parties had not been allowed to contest. Local bodies polls are not a mini version of general election. They are primarily for developing grass root awareness and participation of the common man.
Unfortunately the cantonment LB polls in Karachi have been politicized to such a great extent that the parties are only thinking of it as a source of political power. This is most obvious in the alliances shaping for the post of VP. It is self aggrandizement the way they are talking. For the VP post in Cantonment Board Clifton PTI is willing to ally with any other party but not MQM. The PPP is willing to ally with anyone else but not PTI. This is ridiculous. This is their brand of politics or is it emotionalism?
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