‘It is the election for the entire nation’
“Jine Lahore Nai Vekhya O Jamya-e-Nai” goes the saying – and for good reason. Lahore is a city best known as a cultural and economic powerhouse. The people are often described as vibrant and hospitable and it has been home to many renowned writers. Less talked about – though just as accurate – is another role Lahore has played: that of a historical platform to political movements in the region – and Pakistan in particular. Before partition, it was the stage from where were announced not one but two different resolutions of independence – the Purna Swaraj of 1929 and the Pakistan Resolution of 1940. In 2012, it was the host of the PTI’s “Tsunami” dharna – with record breaking turnout. And now in 2015, 488,529 voters will cast their ballots in what has become a national phenomenon.
NA 122 is, at first glance, just another constituency; it has its share of problems, constituents, and candidates who promise to resolve the problems of said constituents — should they be elected to office. The local body elections due to take place here should not, therefore, have caused the stir they did. In fact, had the same candidates been informed in the 2013 general elections that #NA122 would be nationally trending in 2015, they’d have laughed.
The story of the by-elections is a well known one by now: it starts not from the day of elections or even the election campaign of 2015, but the results of the general elections of 2013. PTI’s fight to have the election results of 2013 investigated seemed to eventually come to fruition when the Election Commission declared the results of four constituencies null and void and called for re-elections. A stay order on NA-154 left all eyes on NA-122 in Lahore where PML-N’s candidate National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is pitted against PTI’s Abdul Aleem Khan in today’s elections. The people will make what is being called a historic decision, one that will not only help decide the victor of the constituency but go a long way in maintaining the credibility and validating the trials and efforts of the victorious party.
The story of the by-elections is a well known one by now: it starts not from the day of elections or even the election campaign of 2015, but the results of the general elections of 2013
PTI’s war
PTI’s got a lot riding on today’s results. Should the voters declare in their favour, the party will be not only the victors of NA-122, but will use this victory as what it can be: validation and credibility in the party’s fierce opposition of the party in power they’ve called corrupt since 2013.
“In Britain,” lamented the PTI chief, “they train their people in how to get voters out of the house and to the voting booths for the elections. And in Pakistan, Chaudhry Sarwar spends all his time trying to train our people in how to stop the PML-N from rigging the elections! What kind of a country is this? These people are corrupt. We should rename (N –League) the “stay order league”.”
The PML-N: Hear us roar
PML-N that is being accused of rigging the 2013 elections and their candidate – Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq – lost the constituency when the election tribunal declared 2013 results in the area null and void. Reclaiming the seat will validate their position and give the ruling party the credibility it sorely needs in times when it faces internal strife on one hand, an expensive and much overdue military operation on the other and an opposition ready to drag each flaw into the limelight every way it turns. Should the party win, it may be able to use this victory to put the opposition’s criticism to rest. Should it lose, however, PTI will – and the general public may – see it as a weakness that is further exploitable, and use it to justify its own stance. Sadiq is confident, and says he’ll battle “both the Khans and win.”
The campaigns: “bigger than a general election”
While PML-N’s chiefs and prominent leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, respectively, both hold public offices and were therefore unable to campaign, Hamza Shehbaz has been stepping up to the plate. PTI chief Imran Khan was also initially banned from participating in the campaigns by the ECP — a decision that was revoked by the Lahore High Court.
Both parties have spared no expense in their campaigns.
“It’s even bigger than the general elections!” many an acquaintance exclaimed — and with good reason. Calling it “wall to wall” would be an understatement: Lahoris spent the past week faced with the candidates, party chiefs and other leaders on display at every corner and on every road. Ground skimming banners hung from the sides of buildings. The streets looked like they were preparing for a carnival. And of course the media circus that were the rallies from each party did not disappoint.
As the deadline for the NA-122 campaigning drew closer and the supporters of PTI danced on Jail Road, PML-N supporters gathered around Ayaz Sadiq and Hamza Shehbaz. As Sheikh Rashid renewed PTI’s vow to bring all corrupt policy makers to justice, PML-N’s leaders stood firm in their resolve against their opponents. PTI’s Chaudhry Sarwar caused some raised eyebrows with a premature announcement:
“… want to thank Allah in advance and congratulate Imran Khan sahib: the people have decided in your favour.”
Imran Khan drew howls of laughter from the crowd by comparing the prime minister to a “cricketer who won’t bat unless his chosen umpire presides” – a statement that was perhaps what drew the ire of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz on Twitter.
And PML-N quietly launched its own counter attack on local media.
There were no political statements, no vows, and no pledges in the PML-N’s advertisement, just a carefully made video montage that took some of the PTI chief’s best known statements and promises and paired them with images that depicted a far bleaker picture. Was it simple? Yes. Did it get their point across? Definitely.
PTI’s got a lot riding on today’s results. Should the voters declare in their favour, the party will be not only the victors of NA-122, but will use this victory as what it can be: validation and credibility in the party’s fierce opposition of the party in power they’ve called corrupt since 2013
“It’s been going on since morning,” said Ms Khushboo Ejaz, as we discussed smear tactics on the last night of the campaign, “and both sides are doing it.”
Will the smear campaigning have any effect though?
“No,” said Professor Khushboo, “I don’t think so. The voters here are set on who they’re voting for.”
A professor of Political Science at Kinnaird College, she was also one of many to raise the point of the massive campaign expenditures incurred by both parties on this election.
“Look how much money they’ve spent on these campaigns,” she said, “Look at the problems of this constituency: there’s barely any drinkable water, the power voltage is never higher than 180. And they’ve spent all that money on the campaign for NA-122, and not on the people.”
The matter of campaign expenditures has caught the attention many: the law limits the total expenditure on this election campaign to PKR1.5 million, but people who’ve visited the area have pointed out that even that couldn’t cover the massive banners and posters and the expense of the rallies. The party officials have reportedly told local media that while they’ve kept to the imposed limits, they wouldn’t restrain their supporters, many of whom have printed and posted banners and posters at their own expense.
If true, people can’t be faulted for their enthusiasm: the road to NA-122 bye-elections has been far from easy, and it has turned the local body election in to a national story, covered by every major news channel in the country.
To the poll booths
The truth is, simply, that neither party can afford to lose this election – it’s become symbolic of either’s struggle. It’s no longer Ayaz Sadiq vs Abdul Aleem Khan – it’s Imran Khan vs Nawaz Sharif. Winning NA-122 is about more than bragging rights; it proves the other party wrong. Will the campaigning and the months of effort pay off? Only the exit polls will tell.
To quote the PTI Chief: “It’s going to be great fun on the 11th. Hands in the air – are you ready for it?”