By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: The otherwise termed as ‘dead city’ in fact begun bursting with energy in the wee hours of the day and as Capitaliites are known to be early risers. However, 8th February was not any ordinary day for the masses. It was a day to vote and since Capital is the hub of educated and sophisticated lot, so the people from all walks of life set out to vote as early as 8.00am just as the polling stations opened up.
A day earlier, there were heated debates on social media and few expressed their disappointment over the political scenario and their unwillingness to test old faces yet again over the political arena.
However, in the end, minds won over hearts or the hope in the hearts guided the minds forward and the people set out to cast their rights to vote.
Despite announcing again and again that one could send sms to 8300 for inquiry of their polling station, the message remained that of credit which in today’s world of infinite packages on the SIMs, was a hinderance as keeping credit in the mobile SIMs has begun a thing of the past.
Then, as expected, the signals of mobile SIMs were gone but people mostly have wi-fi at homes. So they could use the internet and communicate on whatsapp and other social networks.
However, since mobile data was inactive, so once out of homes, one couldn’t link together. Besides, not everybody has cars to reach the polling stations. Many are dependent on InDrive and Careem for that matter.
However, rides could not be booked due to lack of mobile data outside homes and thus, unavailability of internet available with the cab drivers.
However, all these hinderances did not stop the Capitaliites from casting their votes and at the end of the day, a very smooth and peaceful polling activity was administered in the Capital. The police personnel and polling staff was very polite and helpful too!
