Who gained the most from this slugfest?
The exercise of election is regarded as a beauty of democracy because the people find a way to choose the ruler of their own choice. Here in Pakistan, it has become a settled truth that only a financially strong person can dare contest an election of national or provincial assembly keeping in view the cost incurred on an election campaign. The bye-election in NA-122 and PP-147 that is going to be held in Lahore today has broken all records of publicity as both the candidates of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) have run a vigorous campaign to clinch this strategically crucial seat.
Haider Ali, who has a business of printing press at Aibak Road near Mayo Hospital Lahore, told DNA that he has printed the advertisement material in bulk for the bye-election of NA-122 and almost all his competitors in the market are working day and night to meet the orders that they have taken for the election.
According to the experience of Haider, Rs100 million have been spent on just advertisements in this election as no one can see even a single corner of this constituency without publicity banners and hoardings
According to the experience of Haider, Rs100 million have been spent on just advertisements in this election as no one can see even a single corner of this constituency without publicity banners and hoardings. He further added that he has heard from some of his colleagues in the market that PTI has managed to establish its own printing machines for this election and upcoming local body polls. According to him, every major roundabout of the constituency is decorated with more than 100 flexes and it may cost Rs40,000 to 50,000 in one roundabout.
Another printer Imran Butt of the same area told this correspondent that he is very happy with the election in NA-122 because his business has flourished manifold in these days and orders are booked in advance. A flex is prepared at a rate of Rs12 per square foot and fitting charges are not included in this rate because some influential candidates have their own staff for this purpose.
There is another hub of printing presses in the city at Royal Park near Lakshmi Chowk where the business worth of millions took place during the election campaign of NA-122. A traditional painter in the area named Ahmad Shah, who works manually, told DNA that there was a time when his business also used to touch boom during election days but this time business was very low.
“Everyone now prefers to have graphic designing on his flex and banner and there are a number of printing agencies operating in our area to attract the customers”, he said.
Younus Rana, who owns a printing agency at Royal Park, told DNA that he remained quite busy in last few days due to the workload because of election in NA-122. He did not reveal his actual earning because of the fear of Income Tax officials.
It is pertinent to mention here that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set a condition for candidates of the National Assembly that one cannot spend more than Rs1.5 million in his election campaign and a provincial assembly candidate cannot exceed Rs1 million. The ECP has summoned both the candidates of PTI and PML-N on the petition of PPP’s candidate to explain their expenses on the election campaign. Barrister Amir Hassan, the candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party from NA-122, has accused his contenders of breaching the expense limit set by ECP and wanted a ban on them. Both Aleem Khan and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, candidates of PTI and PML-N respectively, told the ECP that their supporters are spending extravagantly on their campaigns.
There is another aspect of business activity in NA-122 due to bye-election as most of the shops in the constituency are open for 24 hours because of hustle and bustle there. Muhammad Hanif, who runs a tobacco shop in Garhi Shahu, told this scribe that the central election office of PTI is situated in Garhi Shahu and therefore he has to keep open his shop for 24 hours to cater to customers throughout the day.
“My business is in a boom these days as people throng to my shop after concluding their election rallies and stay here till the morning discussing political developments of the constituency”, he said.
Bashir Khan, who runs a tea stall near Mozang, told DNA that his business is also in full swing owing to the bye-election in the area. According to Khan, his income has doubled these days as compared to routine days because he delivers his tea into different polling offices flooded with political workers.
Younus Rana, who owns a printing agency at Royal Park, told DNA that he remained quite busy in last few days due to the workload because of election in NA-122. He did not reveal his actual earning because of the fear of Income Tax officials
One can witness that efficient sound system has become a vital part in election campaigns since the past some time and every polling office tries to fix a good DJ System. An average sound system in a political function may cost Rs10,000 to 15,000 and in a massive public gathering this cost can increase to near half a million.
Taaj Muhammad, who teaches Economics in Government College University (GCU) Lahore, told DNA that seasonal and short-term employment is being generated through political activities these days and it is a healthy sign for the local economy temporarily. He further added that there is a theory in International Political Economy named as “Electoral Business Cycle” that explains that contesting candidates invest a lot of money in making roads, sewerage and parks prior to the elections to garner the public support.
A brief history of NA-122:
NA-122 is the fifth constituency of National Assembly among the thirteen constituencies of Lahore District. Two constituencies of provincial assemblies PP-147 and PP-148 come under NA-122. The areas like Shadman, Ichra, Shah Jamal, Mian Mir, Dharampurra, Upper Mall, Mozang, Garhi Shahu, Mughalpura and Railway Station comes in this constituency. There are middle-class businessmen, railway workers and private job holders living in this constituency. There are living Aarayin, Shiekh, Jutt and Kamboh clans and it is completely an urban constituency. The PML-N has won three consecutive elections from here in 2002, 2008 and 2013. In last general election, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N has defeated Imran Khan of PTI with the margin of more than 8000 votes. The ECP has added 162,501 young voters since the general election of 2013. Now the registered voters stand at 488,529 in the constituency. Among them, 268,057 are male and 220,472 are female voters.
