ISLAMABAD: Constitution Avenue, alive with the laughter of children, resembled a carnival on Sunday evening. The Pakistani Awami Tehreek (PAT) had organised a funfair and game show to reward children in the camps after a week of assessment tests.

Two tables lined with teddy bears, stationery and trophies for winners were set up on one side. Volunteers holding loudspeakers instructed unruly, excited children to sit on either side of the road to make room for the races in the middle. Children with PAT flags painted on their faces were flashing victory signs and cheering gleefully.

PAT has set up a makeshift school at the protest site to ensure that children at the sit-in don’t fall behind in their studies.

Also read: PAT chief refuses to allow sit-in participants to go home

Zahid Latif, director of the Iqilab March School, told Dawn that the games had been organised to keep the spirits up in the camp. “We had 100 metre races, sack races, relay races, banana eating competitions and a quiz. The kids worked hard to prepare for tests and now we want them to have fun.”

Forty five days is a long time if you are a child and the children at the PAT camps have had their share of difficulties. The heat, unhygienic living conditions, lack of potable water and clean food has made many children ill. “My kids keep getting sick from the food and water here and the mosquitoes make it difficult for them to sleep at night,” said Asiya Bibi as she sat helping her children with their homework, inside a tent on Constitution Avenue.

Oblivious to the conditions in the camps, the children at the PAT camp are having the time of their lives

Her four children sat around her with their books. Next to her were bottles of medicine and mosquito-repellent lotion. The inside of the tent was hot and teeming with flies. “The police stop supplies from entering the camps. I can’t even get diapers and milk for my baby,” she lamented.

She said that no mother can see her children suffering and living under difficult conditions but she was willing to make this sacrifice for their future. “My thirteen-year-old had to work in a factory after his father was injured in an accident at the mill where he worked. My younger son was kicked out of a government school in Rawalakot because we couldn’t afford the uniform. The rulers give their children lives of luxury, why can’t we ask for basic things for ours? I want to bring change for my children,” she said.

The children themselves appeared cheerful and said that these have been the best days of their lives. They ran around playing with friends made at the camps, buying supari and candy from vendors who have set up stalls in front of parliament. Oblivious to the heat and the conditions in the camps, they all said that they love it here in Islamabad. Six-year-old Rustum sat inside a tent with his mother and smiled when asked about how he likes it here.

“I love living here. I have made a friend, his name is Matti, we play cricket and eat ice-cream. Look, I also have a bat,” he said.

Children at the PAT sit-in inside their tent. — Dawn

Fourteen-year-old Kulsoom has been at the PAT camp for a month and a half. “One day, my mother was braiding my hair and I heard some children say that Dr Tahirul Qadri is coming. I ran out of the tent and pushed through the kids surrounding him to get closer. Dr. Qadri smiled at me and put his hand on my head. I think that is my favourite memory from my days here,” she recalled happily.

Kulsoom said that she has made lots of friends at the camp. Back home in Lahore, her days were spent going to school, attending tuitions and doing homework. Here at the camps, every day has been an adventure. She even got to be a part of the forward march towards the Prime Minister’s House on September 1, and proudly narrated how policemen hit her and her friends with sticks. “The only thing I miss about home is the food,” she said, longingly.

Six-year-old Laiba has also been at the PAT camp for over a month. She said that she likes the school here a lot and she has made a lot of new friends. “I miss being able to watch my favourite cartoons,” she said.

Seven-year-old Gul Zahra from Faisalabad and eight-year-old Alisha from Lala Musa, met at the PAT camp and have become best of friends. They walked around holding hands and said that living here has been a lot of fun. “We love playing on the swings and also play pretend games,” said Gul Zahra.

“I don’t want to go home but I just miss watching scary dramas on TV, they are my favourite,” says Alisha, giggling.

Published in Dawn, September 29th , 2014