PEOPLE across the country would have heaved a sigh of relief at the end of the election season. And we are talking of millions of everyday people; not the activists.
I wonder why a display of uncivilised behaviour becomes something acceptable in the name of an election campaign. Change begins with oneself, they say. If the politicians and their followers cannot change their own behaviour for the better, there is little chance that they may run the country effectively. In my area of Gulistan-iJauhar in Karachi, the political campaign of a political party kept the entire arterial road blocked for traffic.
Party supporters added tothenuisance, asking nearby shops to pull the shutters down every now and then to ensure `security` of their leaders who came to visit the site.
The pedestrian bridge was also closed for the public by the activists, causing more inconvenience to the people who were more interested in going about theirlives than takingpartin election campaigns.
Such campaigns and demonstrations shouldbe heldin an open ground,and not in public areas. By doing anything they want during election campaigns, political activists only ensure further distance between the people and political participation.
Besides, it causes resentment among the people for the political party and its leadership.
If the politicalparties cannot provide relief to the people, they should at least spare them trouble by not holding power shows at the cost of their peace of mind.
