NOWSHERA, April 29: With date for the upcoming general elections drawing closer, candidates in the run for NA-46 from Bara subdivision of Khyber Agency have also intensified their campaign in the sprawling Jalozai camp in Nowshera district.

During a visit to the camp this scribe saw a number of election offices of different candidates, both independent and belonging to various political parties. A large number of internally displaced persons from different tribes of Bara were seen at these offices sharing political views.

Some were also engaged in a heated debate over the performance of the former parliamentarians and their expectations from the newcomers.

“We have been cheated by all,” Said Baz Akkakhel said when asked whom he would vote for. Said Baz and his family were among the first to settle in Jalozai in a single tent to which they were not accustomed before.

“We weathered scorching summers and chilling winters but no one bothered to enquire about our well being,” he said, but showed his resolve to cast his vote. “It’s a national obligation and a hope for a better future,” he said.

Imran Khan, 23, of Malikdin Khel, was very anxious to exercise right to vote for the first time in his life. “I will vote for the party of my name-sake Imran Khan who has given us a hope for a better future,” he said with a broad smile on his face. He said he was also active to persuade the younger IDPs to take part in the electoral process.

Mula Khel, member of the camp shura, said he was optimistic about a positive change not only in the tribal areas but in the whole country after the May 11 elections. He said Fata people were now more politically aware and vote for only those who could effectively raise their voice in parliament.

He said the Bara IDPs have high expectations from the upcoming elections as he believed these elections would bring peace in the region. Mula Khel also supported Imran Khan and pledged that he along with his family would vote for PTI candidate from Bara.

Babar Khan, a political activist from Shalobar and a supporter of former MNA Hamidullah Jan, said they were deliberately deprived of their voting right in past and now they were conscious about its use as it could guarantee a safe and peaceful future for the people of Fata.

Party and independent candidates have decorated their election offices and hundreds of tents in the camp with their flags, banners and posters with their pictures.

Candidates have also assigned responsibility to their supporters to conduct tent to tent campaign not only to introduce them to potential voters but also spread awareness among the IDPs about the electoral process.

However, most IDPs are still indecisive about allowing women to cast their vote. Also no women were seen either in the streets or near the election offices.

“It depends upon the family head whether to allow women to vote or not,” said Haji Namdar, another member of the camp shura. Candidates too have kept a silence over the issue of women voting and it seemed that everyone was waiting for the other to take the initiative.