It is a common surveillance that more often than not, the least expected things happen on the globe and affect people either optimistically or pessimistically. If we glance back into the historical events for the course of a decade, we hit upon occurrences that caused bewilderment to the world which were not even thought of before. For instance, the attack on the world trade center altered the world political scenario in a flash, and gave birth to the thought in the psyche of the West that the ‘Muslims are terrorists’. Tsunami swept away the lives of thousands of people, in a few seconds and left the world lamenting for its helplessness in the hands of God. The recent Iran – American conformity on removing the sanctions once imposed on Iran left the world in a state of mammoth astonishment. The earthquake of 2005 almost turned the mountainous areas of the country especially, “Bagh” and other adjacent regions inside out. The terrorists assailed on Peshawar school and seized the lives of nearly 150 innocent children and gave an initiation to the military action “Zarb-e-Azb” there upon against the terrorists, which is in process successfully. These are some of the most prominent and shocking incidents of the recent past and the inventory of such episodes is pretty lengthy.
Such an unexpected thing happened to me as well during this summer holidays, when I went back to Gilgit-Baltistan to spend my vacation. Yes (GB) my region …. the place is also known in the dictionary of the world as “Heaven on Earth” and the world is craving for it to be visited once at least in their lifetime. I do not want to go into the details of its beauty because it is said that ‘seeing is believing’ so whosoever doubts, he or she in person must visit this area and be the witness of the beauty of nature and the admirer of the Almighty Allah for the creation of such a panoramic landscape.
It was a sheer co-incidence to reach Skardu during the elections 2015. For the first time I experienced to cast vote using my “NATIONAL RIGHT” in the recent elections of Gilgit-Baltistan. I admit the guilt of using the term NATIONAL, because as per the recent categorical statement of one of the ministers of our beloved country; “GB is not the part of Pakistan” in spite of the fact that the people of GB have had the national identity card (NIC) of Islamic Republic of Pakistan since the region got independence and willingly affiliated with Pakistan. I lost my real maternal uncle, in the 1971 war, who was in Pakistan Army and fighting against India to secure the beloved country. The history of GB is full of such sacrifices of the people of GB for the country, but those heroes and their sacrifices have been long forgotten now. I sometimes think that how come those departed souls be identified, when the living souls are yet to be identified!!! According to the mentioned statement the whole GB’s nationality is at stake. Even then it is an obstinate fact that the unidentified voices that come from the mountains’ peaks of GB will always roar with the sounds of “Pakistan Zindabad”!!!
Sorry for the digression my dear readers, when the mind is overwhelmed by emotions, thing like this is inevitable to happen. I am not to discuss nationality here, it came to my mind all of a sudden unexpectedly as our discussion is “Expect the unexpected” so unexpected things can aptly be expected from me as well….
It was an exciting thing to observe elections for the very first time. Before, during and after the elections, so many unexpected incidents came into sight. Having known the reality that GB plays merely the role of a twelfth player in the politics of Pakistan, almost all the leaders had vows of making the DEVOTED part of Pakistan (GB) jewel in the crown, if they were elected. As we all know that the duty of the twelfth player is to serve the other players in the field with drinks and other necessities. Though he remains in the uniform and does his level best to be focused on by all the cameras, in order to show himself an important member of the team to the world, yet he is less likely to make any room in the playing eleven. For instance, we have four provinces in our country and five chief ministers and it is understood that one of them is playing the role of twelfth player…!!!
All the political parties plunged into the elections with enchanting party songs, eye catching posters, enfolding banners and fluttering party flags. At times one would be driven by the thought of being in an Indian festivity, when he saw people barmy with songs, dances and other colorful non Islamic activities in the different competitive party rallies. There were four big-guns and some other comparatively smaller parties in the contest. Majlis Wahdat ul Muslimeen (MWM) made its debut in the (GB) elections, and fought the elections with a great zest and enthusiasm. Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI) emerged in the elections with full of its typical melodious charm. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was also in its full swing as the party had had the previous government in the region. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) too was in the race. Politicians from all over Pakistan flew to (GB) for convincing of their own parties as if they were the Siberian birds flying to Pakistan to spend their winter season or in search of a congenial environment, and as a matter of fact it was the amiable political environment that attracted the political birds towards that region.
Elections were held under the supervision of Pakistan Army to make sure the fairness, transparency and impartiality, and were proved to be so as well. The most interesting and unbelievable thing was the contest of PTI and PMLN in the capital of Baltistan, where both the parties won the election almost twice if not thrice!!! The contest, the difference of only 1 vote, and the uncertainty of the ever changing result left the town areas’ people in a state of tragic-comedy, which was also least rather not expected at all.
Over all elections had again unexpected results. The comparatively less popular party in GB especially in Baltistan got a huge mandate. PMLN almost had a clean sweep against the expectations of not only PMLN itself, but also of the common populace and opponents. They had already proclaimed the construction of Skardu road and Baltistan University along with the separation of districts of Baltistan before the elections. The formation of the PMLN government with the majority of seats in assembly gave hype to the expectations of the GB people that has now reached sky high. Now the people anticipate that if the people of GB have voted and shown their convictions in the PMLN government, it is their turn to pay-back and show their sincerity towards the people of GB as well. People are of the view that if the government is earnest with this region then it is the high time for the government to take steps practically and give them their constitutional rights and identity in real sense, and avail the opportunity of making GB the “Raiwind” for PMLN by winning the hearts of GB people. Pak- China economic corridor comes to Pakistan by-passing the heart of GB, and the political leaders are having stars in their eyes seeing the great opportunity of utilizing the mega project, to benefit the people. People of GB are also hopeful that the historical Pak- China agreement will benefit GB in particular. PMLN has got the golden chance to make the most of the time and be the apple of the eyes of GB by endowing them with their constitutional rights as well as gratifying the promises made to them before elections. If PMLN fails to spot this golden opportunity they should also expect that they may even not be in the memories of the people of GB in the years to come.
Another unexpected thing is that for the first time comparatively educated members have been flocked in the assembly breaking the records of yesteryears. The Speaker of GB assembly himself says that he expects the scholarly assembly members to perform much better for the prosperity of not only GB, but also of the country.
It is said that expectations always hurt, but it seems to be untrue as far as the government of PMLN is concerned, as the unexpected results of GB elections proved to be other way round for them. The question remains unsolved that whether the GB people are to expect the unexpected from the government or their expectations are to be fulfilled…. The answer is yet to come, that’s why lets again expect the unexpected!!!