Chief of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and former President Pervez Musharraf is a very strong candidate from Chitral in the upcoming general elections. Musharraf is well aware of his popularity in Chitral and has already addressed Chitralis via Skype twice thereby ensuring that his candidacy remains a viable prospect in the rugged mountainous valley. The news, though, is that despite the AMPL's strength, some chinks are visible in the veteran leader's well-worn armour. That, however, may not necessarily lead to his defeat, but will certainly make the battle interesting. Despite the passage of nearly four years Musharraf is still a hero to the people of this neglected area, because he is the only leader in the 67-year history of the country, who opened the Lowari Tunnel and thereby connected the valley with the rest of the country. According to people of the area, nostalgia for former military general reached its peak when the elected government of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) diverted all the funds of the Lowari Tunnel to Multan, bringing the work of the mega project to a standstill.
The people of Chitral told this correspondent that they could forgive corruption and nepotism and poor governance but could not forgive PPP for trying to take credit for the tunnel by maintaining that work on it was first initiated by late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and later failing to complete the tunnel despite being in power for five years.
The locals told this correspondent over phone that the people of Chitral are not ungrateful and wanted to repay [Musharraf] for his services to the area as he fulfilled his promise to the people by opening the Lowari Tunnel - a lifeline for the people of the landlocked scenic valley. Musharraf visited Chitral frequently during his stint in power especially during the annual Shandur polo tournament - a polo match played between Gilgit and Chitral polo teams every year in July.
"Musharraf is the saviour of Pakistan...long live Musharraf, we are with you,... there is no leader of your caliber anywhere in the country. We miss you, come soon [and] lead this beloved country Pakistan in the right direction," said a diehard supporter of Musharraf, Nazir Khan, a teacher.
Sher Azam Khan of Khuz village, a retired jawan of Chitral Scouts said: "I have no interest in elections but this time I'll campaign for Musharraf [as] he is the only leader who can turn around the destiny of the country." Chitral has a good number of retired army and paramilitary personnel estimated at over 20,000 who, according to a retired army officer wished not to be named, are authentic voters of Musharraf.
"These 20,000 pensioners are enough to ensure his success ...these pensioners plus their families including the Ismaili community especially in upper Chitral, would guarantee his clean sweep," he maintained. Besides, a large number of people belonging to Jamaat Islami which has a strong presence in the valley, said: "We will vote for Musharraf come what may because today we can go to Peshawar [provincial capital] anytime by crossing the tunnel."
Haji Muhammad Yousuf, a staunch supporter of JI said that he would vote for Musharraf despite his affiliation with a religious political party. "We should not be ungrateful as it is because of Musharraf we've been connected with the rest of the country. If [God forbid] we do not acknowledge his services, we will languish at the hands of these corrupt leaders till doomsday," he added.
Suleman Shah, a senior PPP stalwart perturbed over the poor performance of PPP, however, said "We should forget which party we come from, and the need of the hour is that we must vote for those who paid attention to mitigating poverty in the valley." "The Chitralis elected late Nusrat Bhutto which proved a blunder as she did not even attend the assembly sessions. Then PPP sent Pyar Ali Allana, a gentleman from Karachi. And now rumours are rife that PPP is all set to field Asma Alamgir, spouse of Arbab Alamgir, federal communication minister from Chitral...enough is enough, we will not let them befool us anymore," he maintained.
According to sources within the PPP provincial minister for population welfare, Salim Khan, who belongs to Chitral, is busy misguiding Asma Alamgir to run for National Assembly seat from Chitral. "Asma could be popular in Peshawar but in Chitral she is not," said Javed Akbar, a PPP jiyala from Lone village. An anecdotal survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that Musharraf will certainly emerge as a member of parliament from Chitral, defeating all his opponents including the self-proclaimed hero of Chitral Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali.