The Election
By Omar Shahid Hamid 
Liberty Publishing 
ISBN: 9786277626402
348pp.

A ward-winning novelist Omar Shahid Hamid has ventured into fresh creative terrain with The Election, his sixth novel. A radical departure from the rest of his oeuvre, Hamid’s latest offering doesn’t derive its creative thrust from his multifaceted experiences as a police officer or counter-terrorism specialist. After writing three quintessential crime thrillers, an espionage novel and a captivating meditation on match-fixing and women’s cricket in Pakistan, he has now turned his attention to political satire.

The decision to deviate from his previous body of work doesn’t come as a surprise, as Hamid’s creative canvas has always remained diverse, drawing new concerns and controversies into its fold. Unencumbered by a predictable creative formula, The Election serves as welcome proof of the acclaimed novelist’s deep commitment to exploring new themes through his writing.

At its core, Hamid’s shift in creative focus appears to be seeded with the spirit of protest against modern-day power politics, which has been tainted by right-wing populism and the attitudinal ambivalence of the Left.

With its characteristic twists and turns, Hamid’s thrilling sixth novel offers a scathing indictment of global politics and its discontents. Above all, it is a refreshing reminder of the shortcomings of messianic politics, which are invariably rooted in vested interests rather than a genuine desire for change.

A gripping tale about prevailing political realities, Omar Shahid Hamid’s sixth novel is a playful political satire about power games and dirty politics in Pakistan and the US

Despite its intense subject matter, The Election is a tale about a man’s misguided quest for the American dream. This can be evidenced from the novel’s opening passage: “I love America. Actually, no, I love the idea of America. I’m addicted to it.” These are words of Wajahat, Hamid’s pragmatic and ambitious protagonist, who prefers to be called Waj. He views the country as a haven of sorts, where meritocracy reigns supreme and it seems as though you’re “looking at life hopped up on Ecstasy.”

His fascination with America predictably stems from his unique circumstances. As a child, Waj and his family divided their time between Karachi’s middle class milieu from Karachi and the “oil-soaked deserts” of Saudi Arabia, where his father worked as a financial adviser to senior princes. In Karachi and Riyadh, “progression always seemed to be linked to having connections.” Unlike the seemingly restrictive spaces he inhabited as a child, America opens doors to opportunities.

Driven by the thirst for this elusive ocean of possibilities, Waj manages to get into Iowa State University on a scholarship. After graduating, he moves to New York and embarks on a quest for a job in the media. However, Waj soon realises that the doors towards progression are little more than a myth, as he struggles to find a job.

Days before his visa expires, he enters the “steel and grass monstrosity” of the Diamond Building for an interview where he encounters real-estate mogul, reality TV guru and former porn actor Ron Diamond. The meeting proves to be a life-altering one and eventually culminates in Waj doing Diamond’s bidding, as the latter contests an American presidential election.

As Waj is drawn deeper into the electoral campaign, he finds himself compromising on his morality and discovering the pitfalls of the American dream he had so passionately desired.

Concurrently, Waj’s father — who now lives in Pakistan — finds himself swayed by the persistence of footballer-turned-politico Javed Afridi, who promises to act as a counter to dynastic politics and unreliable kleptocrats.

Hamid’s narrative exposes the machinations of these populist leaders who enter the political arena under the guise of effecting positive change, but are often as questionable as their predecessors.

In recent years, some Anglophone novelists from Pakistan have examined the perilous consequences of populism. A notable example in this regard is Moni Mohsin’s compelling novel The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R, which features a woman whose life comes undone owing to a sincere, misguided belief in a Pakistani populist leader.

Hamid’s sixth novel ventures beyond the scope of Mohsin’s, as his canvas is broader. The Election seeks to understand the perils of populism through a close inspection of the labyrinthine corridors of power in Pakistan and the US. What emerges is a fascinating comparison between the two countries.

As the narrative swirls through the quicksands of American and Pakistani politics, readers are left with the alarming realisation that the rot is far too deep and cannot be dealt with overnight. In fact, it becomes painfully apparent that this political malaise transcends the boundaries between East and West and isn’t restricted to the proponents of a particular ideology.

Some characters in The Election are inspired by real-life political figures. However, Diamond’s distinctly Trumpian aura and Afridi’s striking similarity to an erstwhile cricketing star-turned-politician shouldn’t just be perceived as caricatures of political personalities in Pakistan and the US. On the contrary, these characters are composites who represent the good, bad and ugly traits of populist leaders as a whole.

Hamid’s writing has a playful, comical quality to it that possibly stems from his abiding interest in US presidential elections and a deep concern for the state of local politics. Be that as it may, The Election doesn’t present a dull commentary on political incompetence. A veritable page-turner, Hamid’s sixth novel is plot-driven, sprinkled with a fascinating array of bizarre scandals to keep readers engaged.

The author simultaneously uses a range of techniques to add richness and complexity to the narrative. For instance, he employs the first-person narrative perspective to delve into Waj’s moral dilemma as he navigates the unfamiliar world of American politics.

At one level, The Election is a different kind of immigrant novel, which begins in a similar vein as Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, but goes in an intriguing, unexpected direction. At another level, the novel also draws attention to the unique challenges faced by Muslims in the West, especially if they are affiliated with the problematic power elite.

A gripping tale about power and populism, The Election stands out as a captivating fictional representation of our prevailing political realities.

The reviewer is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Typically Tanya and No Funeral for Nazia. X: @TahaKehar

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, January 19th, 2025