There has been a mixed response yesterday from the Pakistani expatriate community to the electoral outcome in the elections, which was held on Saturday.
Supporters of Imran Khan’s Tehrik-e-Insaf were deeply disappointed, but those who supported Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N, were jubilant. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporters on the other hand were at a loss of words at the party’s dismal performance.
Qursheed Siddiqui of King Abdulaziz University welcomed the election as a “revolution of youth who have shown keen interest in the political system which needs to be developed further. The massive turnout for polling is an indication that people want to participate in governance. I would like to advise the new government not to take loans from international markets, as they are a burden for the country. Priority must be accorded to the energy sector so that industries can be revived. As the country has abundant coal reserves, it would be beneficial to build thermal power stations to generate power.”
According to Nayab Gohar, a Jeddah-based Pakistani entrepreneur, the historic poll turnout, the first of its kind in the history of Pakistan, has proven beyond a doubt that the people of Pakistan believe in democracy. “The role played by all factions of society in bringing our people to vote for their future is remarkable. The most important lesson we have learned from this election is that the Pakistan Muslim League (N) has gained popularity among the masses,” said Gohar.
“The so-called tsunami, which was mostly touted through social media, led the Pakistani Tehrik-e-Insaf to rout for PPP and ANP. They have lost a lot,” he said. “The message from the Pakistani people is very clear. They were not ready to try another misadventure. They wanted a mature and experienced leadership to run the serious matters of the country.”
Most of the taxi drivers who originally hail from Pakistan’s border areas are hardcore PTI supporters. Their support for this party is clearly displayed on taxis in Jeddah. They were visibly upset, while in stark contrast, PML-N fans were rapturous.
A Jeddah-based general manager, Shahid Haider, said that “the new government should change the current mode of governance completely. This will be the third time that Nawaz Sharif will be heading the government. He knows the areas of priority for the government and the pulse of the masses.”
Hasina A. Hafeez, from Multan, said: “The new government should focus upon generating power, which is the need of the hour for the country.”
Shabbir Uddin, a barber, said that “Nawaz Sharif knows how to govern the nation and develop it. We just pray for him.”
Ali Mardan, a driver, hoped that the government would focus on the development of infrastructure.
and power.
As power changes back home in Islamabad, the Pakistani community in Jeddah eagerly awaits the fruit of change.
Mixed response to Pakistan poll outcome
