ISLAMABAD: Even though Saturday’s local government elections in the garrison city were held in a visibly charged environment, polling on most areas that comprise NA-56 – PTI chief Imran Khan’s National Assembly constituency – ended peacefully.

Taking advantage of the pleasant weather, voters turned out in significant numbers early in the morning in areas such as Pindora, Shakrial, Khanna, Shamsabad and even Satellite Town.

“We are early risers by habit, so I went to the polling station soon after breakfast,” said Khurrum Shah, a resident of the Double Road area. “My cousin had reached the polling station at 7:30 am.”

An uninterrupted supply of tea, that began on Friday night as candidates and their supporters rallied on the eve of polling day, was the main attraction at most polling stations and party camps established in residential areas.

But one candidate explained why campaigning had been more subdued this time around. “The restrictions on rallies, playing loud music and other traditional electoral activities has not only withered election fever, it has helped maintain a peaceful environment on polling day,” said Rao Irshad, the PML-N candidate from the Double Road area.

But it was, at best, a tense calm, as PTI and PML-N workers stared each other down from opposite side of the street in many localities. Tensions were also visible in several areas where workers from both camps would playing loud music or party songs while driving near their rival camp.

Through there were no heated exchanges between party supporters, it was clear that PTI supporters were far more enthusiastic about their prospects than those from the ruling party. Indeed, PTI camps at many polling stations were abuzz with activity, as opposed to the more laid-back mood at the PML-N camps in the same locality.

“This is because PTI is the emerging trend; it’s a new party and these polls have given an additional boost to the party, because they have made significant public outreach efforts at the grassroots-level,” said Nazeer Ahmed, a voter from the Shakrial area. Though the result may not reflect the PTI’s successes in the 2013 general elections, the party’s young cadres in Rawalpindi have retained the same vigour.

Apart from their emotional or ideological attachments among newly-eligible voters, the PTI has benefitted from divisions within disgruntled elements from the PPP and the PML-Q.

“We feel that Imran Khan is the best option,” said Raya Fatima, a young PTI supporter, whose family had traditionally been affiliated with the PPP.

Though she did not personally know the PTI candidates from her neighbourhood in Pindora, she said she had no other option while the PPP was ‘inactive’ in Rawalpindi.

This lack of options on the ballot has benefited the PTI. Safdar Sahi, a two-time nazim from Kuri Road, joined the party and was able to gather all his traditional rivals to give a tough time to their main rivals, the PML-N.

“We’ll find out soon enough if my efforts bear fruit on nor, but at least I have been able to put up a decent show,” said Mr Sahi, whose family had been affiliated with the PML-N. However, he later ran for nazim twice with support from PML-Q, despite the fact that elections were held on a non-party basis.

Similarly, the PML-N has strong base in areas where local leaders have managed to keep close contact with the general public.

“We traditionally vote for the PPP, but this time we voted for the man who was always available at our doorstep,” said Azhar Zaidi, another resident of Pindora.

His whole family shifted their vote to the PML-N because the candidate, Abid Abbasi, succeeded in organising a corner meeting with the family.

However, Mr Zaidi added that key issues such as gas shortages, allegations of kickbacks from the metro bus project and PTI’s persistent social media campaign had triggered a largely anti-incumbent sentiment among the residents.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2015