ISLAMABAD: A group of expats came all the way from Bradford, UK to their native Gujar Khan, to extend support to PTI candidate from NA-58, Chaudhry Azeem.

“Social media and Imran Khan’s leadership are turning the tide against traditional politics,” said Rab Nawaz, who has come back home with four of his cousins.

“We usually come in the winters but we are here in this terrible weather now in order to enjoy the [PTI] victory,” he said.

However, the main contest in NA-58 was led by former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

A local, Zainul Abideen, was wearing badges of both PTI and PPP, hoping that Chaudhry Sajid wins the provincial assembly seat from PP-9 and Mr Ashraf will win the National Assembly seat.

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf voted in his native village of Mohri Rajgan in the presence of media.

He said PPP support will be essential for making the government.

“We are democratic people and PPP is the only party with vast experience of working on coalition governments. This is part of parliamentary democracy and the best solution for the country,” he said.

Though the 2013 elections in the area were tense, including several deaths, voting was peaceful on Wednesday, largely due to the strict implementation of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s directives by army personnel.

Armed soldiers remain on the vigil and police personnel conducted security checks and did not allow mobile phones inside polling stations, not even the media.

A few people came to vote early during the day but there was a sudden rush after 2pm in the entire district.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2018