{"id":54912,"date":"2024-02-01T05:15:06","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T05:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/sher-versus-the-stealth-voter\/"},"modified":"2024-02-01T05:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T05:15:06","slug":"sher-versus-the-stealth-voter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/sher-versus-the-stealth-voter\/","title":{"rendered":"Sher versus the stealth voter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<p>Nawaz supporters are confident, but the Imran voter is determined \u2014 and fantasising about an upset.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p>EARLY on Wednesday morning, the Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib is a picture of tranquillity. Sunlight washes the vast courtyard and arcades, and the smog slowly lifts to reveal the white marble floor.<\/p>\n<p>Visitors trickle in from across the province: a newlywed couple from Lahore holds hands in front of the grand entrance, another from Faisalabad bundles up their infant in a thick blanket. Sikh devotees greet each other before they proceed to wash their feet and enter the gurdwara to pay their respects.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1808407\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>It was here just a week earlier that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1808407\">told a large gathering<\/a> that he would overhaul the political system that \u2018handcuffed, jailed and exiled\u2019 the former prime minister.<\/p>\n<p>So, did his message hit home?<\/p>\n<p>From the dozens of people <em>Dawn<\/em> spoke to in the district, it is clear that the political battle is very much on.<\/p>\n<p>Based on conversations with members of the public in Nankana and Sheikhupura, it appears there are a handful of PPP and TLP supporters, but political loyalties are largely divided between the PML-N and PTI. Nawaz supporters are confident, but the Imran voter is determined \u2014 and fantasising about an upset.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"media  sm:w-full  w-full  media--stretch    media--uneven  media--stretch\"><figcaption class=\"media__caption  \">(Clockwise from top left) Dyal Singh, the elderly sewadar believes the PML-N is strong in the district; youths at the gurdwara felt that in the current circumstances, even undecided voters may go with Nawaz; while, the newlyweds from Lahore have faith in Nawaz\u2019s ability to create jobs and improve the economic situation.\u2014Photos by the writer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote-level-1\">\n<p>Nawaz supporters are confident, but the Imran voter is determined \u2014 and fantasising about an upset<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It is clear to many that PML-N will be the big winner in the elections, but questions are being asked. Is Nawaz walking on an illusion, one asks? Is Khan finished, says another. Nearly everyone maintains that the establishment will be the ultimate decision-maker.<\/p>\n<p>Dyal Singh, an elderly <em>sewadar<\/em> (volunteer) at the gurdwara, presented an interesting (albeit chauvinistic) analogy. \u201cThe dynamic of the army and politicians is like the relationship between a husband and wife in our [patriarchal] society. Can a wife displease her husband? Does she leave the home if he asks her not to? Both Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif have learned the hard way.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1810208\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Support for Nawaz is evident. Dyal Singh feels the PML-N is strong in the district, and that the recent rally further boosted his popularity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring the rally, his daughter Maryam paid a compliment to the colourful <em>pagris<\/em> (turbans) of the Sikh community. She said <em>sat sri akal<\/em> to the crowd. These gestures touched us,\u201d he said, adding that there is a narrative that PML-N brings development.<\/p>\n<p>Another volunteer said even undecided voters may go with Nawaz.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Jiss ka tara ooncha ja raha hai, ussi ka vote hai<\/em>,\u201d (the one whose star is rising, they will get the vote) he says, hinting that it is widely believed Nawaz is the favourite of the powers that be this election.<\/p>\n<p>The newlyweds from Lahore, too, are Nawaz supporters. The young gentleman Ali Akbar says, \u201cOf course there are many people who love Imran Khan. But can he help the economic situation? Can he create jobs? Nawaz can. Hearts beat for Imran Khan, but the sher is the best.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He adds, however, \u201cIf Imran Khan was not in jail today, Nawaz would still be in London.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Imran \u2018conviction\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Countering speculations that the voter turnout may be low in the upcoming polls owing to the dismantling of the PTI, many young supporters visiting the shrine were clear: Khan\u2019s successive sentences in two cases this week have only bolstered his support base.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1810268\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Adnan, a university student, said the stealth PTI voter will shock the country on February 8.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost young people are with Imran Khan. They will come out in droves. The head may have been chopped off, and the body battered, but the heart still beats \u2014 that is the PTI in a nutshell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven without our leader, without the bat, without the party, he will be the victor \u2014 even in defeat, because we will come out on top in a big way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another young man said, \u201cAll my classmates will vote for PTI\u2019s candidate. Our lashkar is hidden, because we fear that we will be crushed like our leader was crushed. But just like he is fighting by staying in jail, we will fight for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1731684\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Interestingly, Adnan said he and his friends went to the PML-N rally last week in Nankana.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t be fooled by the big turnout at rallies. We also went to the PML-N <em>jalsa<\/em>. When you are at war, you should observe the enemy, see what their tactics are, and what they are thinking. That\u2019s why we went.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At a dhaba in the market outside the gurdwara, a trio of young gentlemen echoed a similar steadfast conviction in Imran Khan. \u201cWe are all laying low. Our friends get arrested if they openly support the PTI, so we don\u2019t want to take a risk and be caught. We are silent now, but election day will be our power show,\u201d said Abdur Rehman.<\/p>\n<p>A young constable, Asif, also condemned the crackdown against PTI. \u201cBut if there is police action in the district against a PTI supporter, I skip work that day. I make an excuse and don\u2019t join the raiding party.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These young men profess a blind faith in Khan. They use platitudes to describe his qualities, and insist that their spirit and conviction has not been broken.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery time I think of him in jail, I remind myself to go out and vote,\u201d said Abdur Rehman. \u201cLoss of the <em>balla<\/em> (bat) doesn\u2019t hurt us \u2014 we know who our guy is, whether he has the <em>mor<\/em> (peacock), the <em>pyala<\/em> (bowl), the <em>baingan<\/em> (eggplant). And these independents know that if they turn on PTI after winning a seat, they will have to face us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>Header image: A PML-N supporter waves the party\u2019s flag during an election campaign rally in Lahore on January 29, 2024. \u2014 AFP<\/em><\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em>To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link--external\" href=\"https:\/\/ecp.gov.pk\/general-elections-2024\">here<\/a> for candidates.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nawaz supporters are confident, but the Imran voter is determined \u2014 and fantasising about an upset. EARLY on Wednesday morning, the Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib is a picture of tranquillity. Sunlight washes the vast courtyard and arcades, and the smog slowly lifts to reveal the white marble floor. Visitors trickle in from across [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":54913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2024\/02\/01094629bf1721c.jpg?r=094927","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-islamabad-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54912\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}