It is a usual Saturday afternoon in Washi­ngton, and after three restless days, supporters of PML-N and PTI are finally calm. They have been anticipating the res­ults of general elections to learn the fate of their party and celebrate accordingly.

Today, PTI supporters are buoyed by the news that their party’s incarcerated founder, Imran Khan, has been granted bail in 12 cases linked to the May 9 attacks.

“Just wait and see — Imran Khan will be relea­sed, and he will be acknowledged as the leader of Paki­stan’s largest political par­ty,” asserted Assad Shaikh, a staunch PTI supporter.

But, he was swiftly cautioned by another PTI supporter, Mian Wasim, who said there was a lot to unfold. “The establishment may still have some strategic moves in play.”

PTI and PML-N supporters gathered at Washington restaurants were hoping for swift announcement of results, but they were in for three days of ‘emotional rollercoaster’

While the mood might appear to be a tad more settled, it is coming on the back of three days of tribulation and emotional dissonance.

PML-N and PTI supporters had planned vigils in separate desi restaurants in Washington to celebrate their party’s wins in the Feb 8 general elections.

It started with the expectations of a swift winner, but the hope soon gave way to concerns over lingering uncertainty, setting the stage for a dramatic unfolding of political events.

But they had to keep delaying it as the Election Commission of Pakistan took three days to announce complete results.

The election vigils kicked off on Thursday night following the conclusion of polling in Pakistan. The initial vigil, scheduled from 9pm to 2am at Des Pardes, a restaurant in Northern Virginia, was organised with an expectation that by 7am Friday in Pakistan, they would have a clear winner.

Little did the organisers know that ECP was ready to rain over their parade.

The PML-N supporters were more circumspect. They didn’t hold any vigils and planned a victory celebration at another desi restaurant, Nirala, later in the evening on Friday.

They were hoping that by the time PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif would make a victory speech, which they could catch live while sharing sweets and then head home.

The party on Feb 8 unfolded as scheduled, drawing PML-N supporters from across Washington. Similar to the PTI, they organised tea, samosas, chaat, and sweets to distribute during the anticipated victory speech.

But they were in for a surprise, too. The anticipated victory speech didn’t materialise.

Adding to their consternation was the fact that initial results showed PTI-backed candidates heading towards a landslide win. This was enough to make PML-N supporters retreat to a corner and allow the PTI to take over a section of the booked hall. Some opted to engage in card games, creating a congenial atmosphere amid the changing political dynamics.

Sweets were set aside, and the party’s supporters formed groups to comprehend the unfolding situation.

The air was filled with uncertainty as live news broadcasts from Pakistan showed conflicting reports. Some asserted PTI’s lead, while others speculated on the resurgence of PML-N.

Some voiced frustration at the media for disseminating incomplete results, while others speculated about the “establishment’s influence” in the outcome.

Frustrated supporters temporarily left the premises, allowing journalists and the public to enjoy tea and samosas, courtesy of PML-N.

Amidst the chaos, some level-headed individuals pulled out their cellphones and reached out to their relatives and friends in Lahore and Islamabad for “accurate” information.

Upon their return, the evident ascendancy of PML-N prompted PTI supporters to migrate to another nearby restaurant with a television, away from the watchful eyes and meaningful smiles of their rivals.

As PML-N supporters basked in their triumph, jubilant slogans resounded through the room. As for PTI workers, they quietly sipped tea in the adjacent restaurant.

Some courteous PML-N supporters made a symbolic gesture by walking over to the other eatery with boxes of sweets — barfis and gulab jamuns — for their disheartened nemeses.

“Is it camaraderie or something else?” asked PTI’s Johnny Bashir.

“Whatever it is, accept your defeat and rejoice with us,” replied PML-N’s Shahzad Chaudhary, with a sense of triumph while holding a box of sweets.

The uncertainty and confusion echoed both in Washington and Pakistan.

In a bid to grasp the evolving situation, the supporters who could, called the candidates directly. Johnny Bashir, for instance, congratulated Rehana Dar in Sialkot on her victory, only to learn hours later that she had lost.

Similar misunderstandings resulted in PTI workers and a journalist prematurely congratulating Dr Yasmin Rashid and PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, respectively, over their wins in Lahore. They were later criticised by PML-N workers for the inadvertent mistakes.

Around 2am, supporters from both sides acknowledged that tabulations had halted, and it was futile to wait for more results.

They decided to drown the hopelessness with some desi delicacies and ordered chicken and mutton karahis, brain masala, kebabs, and naans.

Amidst the late-night feast, they planned to reconvene the next night, bracing themselves for another tense evening of political vicissitudes.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2024