LAHORE: With elections approaching, workers of all political parties are exhibiting their enthusiasm by not only decorating party offices with banners and panaflexes, but also playing party anthems to rejuvenate the spirit of polls among the masses.
Anthems, which are a source of spreading the party’s message, are being played on loudspeakers across the city to motivate both the supporters and workers. According to a political analyst, MA Kasuri, the trend of using party anthems dates back to late 1980s when Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) popular “Dila Teer Bija” anthem was released. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also introduced motivating anthems, but it was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that added colour to the trend and hired DJs and renowned singers to perform its anthems.
Among some of the most popular anthems, which have been engraved in the minds of people and political workers can be seen dancing to, are PTI’s “Banayga Naya Pakistan” and “Tabdeeli Aai Ray”, PPP’s “Dila Teer Bija” and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) “Dilon Ki Dharkan Nawaz Sharif” and “Sher Hamara”.
He said that party slogans also motivate voters as they reflect the vision of the leadership. From PPP’s “Roti, Kapra, Makaan” to PML-N’s “Vote Ko Izzat Do” and PTI’s “Tabdeeli”, all these slogans are boosting the workers’ enthusiasm and speaking volumes of the parties’ manifestos.
Electoral alliance of five religious parties, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), in its electioneering, has taken an aggressive stance against corruption – allegedly committed by the outgoing governments – and have urged people to choose “diyanatdaari” (honesty) over anything. MMA also claims that it has not awarded party tickets to any corrupt individuals and has asked the people to vote for the “honest” candidates fielded by the alliance.
PPP has also come up with a new slogan “Bibi Ka Waada Nibhna Hai, Pakistan Bachana Hai”. The party leadership has clarified that it was Benazir Bhutto’s mission to provide everyone with “Roti, Kapra Aur Makaa” and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would accomplish his mother’s dream after coming to power.
Banners with pictures of PML-N leaders have been put at different places in the Walled City of Lahore and a new party anthem, “Naara Noon League da laya karo ji” – an interesting take on the Bollywood song “Kadi saadi gali bhul ke vi aya karo ji” – is resonating through the streets of old Lahore.
Meanwhile, the newly-emerged Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) is contesting polls on the basis of religion and sectarianism. While its anthems and slogans enunciate the same, the party’s slogan is “Aya Aya Deen Aya”.
