The Pakistani Spectator

I just got back from my local polling station here in Karachi with the rest of my family having completed our voting duty.

The whole process lasted about a combined total of 20 minutes for all of us, and this included my almost 80 year old grandmother who also accompanied us.

The atmosphere wore a calm and deserted look, the only activity to be seen was of neighborhood families either walking into the polling station to vote, or lining up to get their voting info and polling booth numbers from the M.Q.M camp in the street.

I have kept an eye on the news since morning before going out. True there have been a few instances of violence, but i did not see any such thing around my area. In fact the cordiality of the staff inside the polling station was also very pleasantly noted, they even gave my grandmother a chair to sit on after she had voted and we were going about our civic duty.

Suffice to say i am pleasantly shocked at the professionalism and over all good organization of the electoral process in my area. Good job, whoever helped make this possible!! as this has been my best voting experience yet.

As i was returning, i saw scores more people coming to the polling station from the area, on foot and on cars. I think the turnout is going to be ok as well!! perhaps even more than we expected!

At this moment i would like to urge my fellow Pakistanis to stop huddling around T.V sets listening to scare mongering media channels. Go out and see for yourself, there are no problems, no violence and certainly no pressure at all. Be part of the process, go out and VOTE!!