Zubair Qureshi
Among the 37 candidates (25 independent and 12 representatives of various political parties) trying their luck from Islamabad’s National Assembly (NA-47) constituency Sania Younas, a young Christian candidate is perhaps the only non-Muslim contesting on a general seat as an independent candidate.
Daughter of a retired employee of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Sania Younas has a vision to see the girls from the backward areas, particularly the slums, get education and follow their dreams in life. An M.Sc in Mass Communication, Sania says her decision to opt for a general seat instead of a minority nomination was a result of her firm belief that Muslims and the non-Muslims enjoy all opportunities equally in Pakistan. Though she was denied nomination papers in the beginning, she approached the court and got one. Now not only her papers have been accepted she has also been allotted the symbol of ‘Queen.’
“Long before the date for general elections was announced, I had made up my mind to serve the people of Islamabad particularly in the NA-47 by representing them in the National Assembly,” she said while talking to Pakistan Observer on Monday. She is happy to have the Queen’s symbol because according to her it represents women empowerment and her dream. To me each woman is a queen of her home. I want the public offices and government institutions to respect women as queens because they are the makers of the next generation and keep their families integrated, she said.
Sania was born and brought up in Islamabad and attended Master Ayub’s school up to Grade 9. She also taught there during and after her studies. She has also carried out community service particularly for education of girls and for support of the children in slums of Islamabad.
“I don’t think the sons and daughters of the sanitary workers, sweepers, maids and peons are destined to have the same fate like their parents. They can become doctors, engineers, CSS officers, pilots and computer experts and I will prove this once I am elected to the Assembly and raise voice for them,” she said. Her father Younas Masih, who is a retired employee of the CDA, has complete faith in his daughter’s talent. Her entire family, mother, one brother and two sisters stand firmly behind her.
Braving the chilly winds and cold weather they are carrying out her door-to-door campaign in Islamabad convincing the voters to vote for ‘Queen’ in the Feb 8 general elections. Sania has so far approached 5,000 voters and has plans to cover another 5,000 in the next couple of days. “I fell sick because of overwork but I have a strategy to follow and I stick to it by letter and spirit,” she said. According to Sania, there are around 600,000 voters in the NA-47 and she plans to approach each and every one of them.
