Zubair Qureshi
Whereas various political parties have allotted party tickets to seasoned politicians for the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly seats in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, a number of young candidates are also picked by them and they are carrying out their election campaign vigorously.
Apart from the party ticket holders, the majority of such young candidates are contesting the upcoming polls as independent contestants.
From Rawalpindi’s NA-57 constituency, for instance, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’ (PML-N) has allotted a ticket to Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, son of the PML-N loyalist former Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan. Barrister Danyal who is a relatively new face and entered politics only in 2018 has kick-started his campaign going from door to door to seek his voters’ support in the upcoming elections.
During one such corner meeting, while addressing the voters of his constituency in Jhanda Chichi on Sunday, Barrister Danyal said he had inherited his father’s mission to serve the people and bring prosperity in their lives. Under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan would be back on path of growth, success and prosperity, he said.
Senior women leaders Seema Jilani, Zara Fatemi, Begum Tahseen Fawad, Zeb Nissa Awan, Zareen and other male supporters were also present with them. Barrister Danyal Chaudhry thanked his voters and supporters who had turned up in the extremely cold weather braving the chilly winds and harsh conditions. Barrister Danyal said he considered it his duty to serve the people. “If elected, I will never break the trust of my people,” he said.
Another young candidate contesting election from Islamabad is the lone trans candidate Nayyab Ali contesting from Islamabad’s NA-46 and NA-47. Since no party allotted him the ticket he is contesting elections as independent on the symbol of green pepper. Nayyab has been a vocal champion of the rights of transgender community as well as children, women and minority members. She also participated in the 2018 elections from Okara and Islamabad and lost but failure is something that has further ignited his spirits and he is once again trying his luck from two of Islamabad’s three seats for the NA.
She is also the recipient of the Franco German Human Rights Prize 2020 and has been in the limelight for highlighting the problems being faced by transgender people in society.
Minority candidate Sania Younas is also in the race from the NA-47, Islamabad II. Interestingly, she is running for a general seat and her decision has raised many eyebrows as traditionally minority candidates go for the seats reserved for them in the National Assembly. However, she is confident that since the Constitution of Pakistan allowed her to participate in general elections she would try her luck.
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 she says that the Muslims and the non-Muslims enjoy equal opportunities in Pakistan.
