Hussnain Magsi
“Yasmin Rashid completes hat trick of defeat”, was a headline in a leading english newspaper of the country after the polls. “Really!!?” was my first response as I looked at that
NA 125, formerly NA 120, is as “home” as it gets for the PMLN. It is the stronghold constituency of PMLN. Since 1985, Nawaz Sharif, the founder of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) became the Prime Minister of the country three times, having been elected to the National Assembly from this very constituency. In his absence in 2002 and 2008 general elections, Muhammad Pervaiz Malik and Bilal Yasin respectively contested from this constituency and successfully defended it. After disqualification of Nawaz Sharif in the Panama verdict on 28th July, 2017, the by-election in the constituency was won by his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz. After the disqualification of Party’s initally nominated candidate for the constituency, the only politically-involved child of Sharif and his supposed-to-be political heir, Maryam Nawaz, Waheed Alam Khan of PMLN successfully defended the seat. So pretty much ever since The PLMN came into existence, it has been their home turf!
Born on 21 September,1950 in Chakwal, Dr. Yasmin Rashid is one of the leading gynaecologists of Lahore today. She married Muhammad Rashid Nabi in 1972. Her father-in-law Malik Ghulam Nabi is also a politician and a former provincial minster, and was close to Zulfiqar Ali. She completed her MBBS in 1978. She then obtained her MCPS and FCPS from the college of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.
She also holds the degrees of MCROG and FCROG from ‘Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology’ in UK.
This is probably more education than all of her opposing PMLN candidates combined.
She entered practical politics in 2010, when she joined Imran Khan led Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI). Since then, she has become an important part of the party. Party leadership showed great confidence in her, when they nominated her to contest against the Two time former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif in the generap elections of 2013. It was when she was first introduced to public. Anyway, election took place and as expected, the political veteran Nawaz Sharif *playing on his home turf* emerged victorious. But wait, Dr. Yasmin Rashid didn’t really lose either…Being a political newbie, she was able to collect a massive 52321 votes on the ticket of an inexperienced PTI, second only to the political Kingpin and candidate of Prime Minister from his party, Nawaz Sharif’s tally of 91666. The significance of her score increases massively, when you look at the result of last election in this constituency. In the general elections of 2008, a rather inexperienced Bilal Yasin of PMLN was able to garner 65946 votes against the veteran PPP politician, late Jahangir Badar, who scored a mere 24380 at a time when the tide was in PPP’s favour and when they ended up making federal government. PTI Chairman Imran Khan must’ve liked this result against the third-time Prime Minster, Nawaz Sharif.
4 years down the lane, with PTI gaining more momentum every passing day and PMLN struggling to gain any, The Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz Sharif from holding any public office for life in the Panama Case verdict. His disqualification meant he couldn’t remain the PM anymore, and not even an MNA. This subsequently meant that the seat of NA-120 was vacant. Elections were announced, and PTI again nominated Dr. Yasmin to contest, this time against Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Nawaz Sharif. Being a teenager currently, this was the first time I came to know about her.
Media covered this by election pretty exclusively, given its importance in the national politics. The election campaign from both sides was very different. One candidate, Kulsoom Nawaz, wasn’t even in the country during her campaign and even at the time of election due to illness (She hasn’t come Pakistan since, and is still ill. May Allah bless her with good health). Her campaign was run by her daughter, Maryam Nawaz. PMLN’s motto for the election was that they were treated unfairly by the judiciary. They went for the sympathy tactics, with Maryam trying to persuade the people to vote for them, by mentioning her mother’s health and her father’s disqualification. Not to forget, her Uncle Shahbaz Sharif was the CM of Punjab at the time, who was also accused of using government resources to run the election campaign for her sister-in-law.
At the other hand, Dr. Yasmin perpared for the election in a very different manner. Her selling point during the campaign was the stand against the corruption of Sharif family, and the poor condition of constituency under their government. At the age of 67, she run a door to door campaign in the constituency, with a graceful smile on her face all the time. She worked hard, day and night, visiting different areas in her constituency and personally asking people to vote for PTI. This time, on the back of her previous result, she was being considered the favourite to win. Election took place, and she lost. There were allegations of rigging, but with less than a year from the next General Elections, they didn’t last long. Kulsoom Nawaz managed to win the constituency without even being there the whole time, thanks to ‘Lahore’. But wait, Yasmin Rashid improved her percent score from 2013, but that of PMLN declined. Kulsoom Nawaz collected 61745 votes, while Dr. Yasmin could collect 47099 votes only. The difference this time, however, narrowed down massively since the last time. There was disappointment. The glass wasn’t full, but it was more than half full this time. Given the circumstances, Dr. Yasmin had managed to achieve yet another brilliant score. She handled the setback pretty well. The loss couldn’t take that graceful smile away, it became more satisfied in fact. With same grace, she thanked Allah Almighty, and the people who voted for her…and vowed to do all she could in order to win the all important constituency. Most importantly, she didn’t give up.
Fast forward one year, the general elections of 2018 were coming up. PTI was rising in size and confidence every passing minute, while PMLN was struggling badly to hold its shape, thanks to their poor governance. The NA 120 had now become NA 125. PMLN nominated Nawaz Sharif’s apparent heir, Maryam Nawaz to contest from here. PTI persisted with Dr. Yasmin. Maryam and Nawaz Sharif, both were being investigated in Avenfield refferences by the NAB courts all this while. The campaign started. Maryam continued to play the same victim card, this time with more contents. Dr. Yasmin continued to try and win people’s hearts, this time with more determination. Meanwhile, the NAB court made a decision in the ongoing case, and Maryam too was disqualified from holding any public office, in addition to 8 years in prison. Dr. Yasmin became the hot favourite to win the constituency, as PMLN nominated Waheed Alam Khan to contest. With the tide massively in the favour of PTI, and considering the previous results of Dr. Yasmin, it finally started looking good. Waheed Alam too run a good campaign. The PMLN’S victim card had just gotten better, with Nawaz Sharif and Maryam nawaz being in prison.
Dr. Yasmin continued to seek votes in the streets. In the scorching heat of June and July, and massive rains of Monsoon, she continued to go door to door, in pursuit of Naya Pakistan. Being a working lady at the age of 68, her compaign was as tough as it gets. Yet she stood tall, and gave it her heart and soul. Elections took place, Dr. Yasmin being the favourite. She lost again. Yes she did -on paper-, for the third time. She couldn’t better Waheed Alam Khan’s score of 122327 votes with her count of 105857 votes. But again, this is the highest number of votes ever conceded by PMLN in this all important constituency. Yes, it was disappointing, given the results of PTI all across the country. PMLN managed to win most of Lahore anyway…and rightly so, if they’ve done any real developments at a good rate anywhere, its been in Lahore. They have spent millions of dollars in Lahore, and their wins in Lahore shouldn’t be shocking. And besides, PMLN has some passionate following in Lahore, and that has paid. We all know how the passionate Sharif voters can not see anything wrong with him. Basically, “Khata hai to lagata bhi to hai” sums it all up.
This loss must’ve been tough. After all the effort, it seemed pretty much in reach, yet it wasn’t. But looking at the larger picture, PTI has a massive win! They have totally outclassed every other political party in the country. And apparently, the victory of the Party, and possibly the emergence of “Naya Pakistan pleases Dr. Yasmin more than her own loss disappoints her.
After the results, she tweeted
To all the candidates who have won and to @ImranKhanPTI my heartfelt prayers and congratulations.
I cannot be happier to have achieved our goal.
We now require prayers to help us make the Naya Pakistan that we have dreamt of.#PrimeMinisterImranKhan— Dr. Yasmin Rashid (@Dr_YasminRashid) July 26, 2018
She looked genuinely happy even after what seems to be a loss….And why shouldn’t she be? She has done some massive damage to PMLN in what can be termed as their political home, The all important NA 125.
On 27th July, she was at her clinic the whole day, thanking her voters and supporters for their unconditional love for her….wearing the same graceful smile, with more satisfaction…Satisfaction of being part of a new Pakistan!
Her name is Dr. Yasmin Rashid, and She is an iron lady! Regardless of how unfair Lahore has been to her, she still stands tall. She takes pride in each and every step towards the destination….and most importantly, She doesn’t give up! Do you still think she lost? Really?
