While the battle for Lahore gets underway on May 11 when the top leadership of PML-N and PTI lock their horns, PMLN, in a last ditch effort to boost their electoral fortunes, has decided to give Lahorites a chance to see former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in action on Thursday.
Nawaz, who had cancelled his political engagements in the city on Wednesday to express solidarity with PTI workers and supporters, will visit the city for the first time on Thursday.
He will visit NA-127 and NA-122 during the course of his visit and will conclude his campaign at Data Darbar. Nawaz will address public meetings at Sunday Bazar, Green Town, Dongi Ground Samnabad and GT Road adjoining Data Darbbar.
Interesting, he is not going to his own constituency, NA-120, showing the amount of confidence he has in himself. But party sources expect him to pay surprise visits to some other parts
In his absence from Lahore, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his wife Kulsom Nawaz were managing affairs. Maryam paid numerous visits to various parts of the constituency.
On the other hand, Shahbaz Sharif also took a round of the city and held corner meetings at various points. It was quite enigmatic for the PML -N’s strategists after Imran Khan’s robust start.
Although PML-N had decided to hold a mammoth public meeting at Minto Park, but after the government closed Minto Park after severe security threats, the party decided to organise a massive rally with Nawaz stopping at various points.
However, PML-N leadership decided against the rally, saying that it was not feasible to bring out a rally with Nawaz leading it in such a short period of time.
“The rally will move very slowly when Mian Sahab will lead it. We are weighing various options regarding how Nawaz should visit the city,” Senator Pervaiz Rashid said.
With the PPP’s negligible position in the city, the contest is turning out to be a one-on-one fight between the PML-N and PTI, with the former trying to maintain its supremacy in the city.
As per traditions, candidates from major parties are holding public meetings in their constituencies to mark the end of the campaign. According to political analysts, these meetings are very instrumental in creating a favourable air for the party which will pull a greater number of people.
However, the absence of Imran Khan will dampen the campaign which political analysts expected to reach its zenith on Thursday.
Analysts believe that Imran’s absence from the scene in the final hours would not undermine PTI’s prospects in the city as the battle lines have already been drawn. Imran visited the city on a number of occasions and addressed meetings at various constituencies.
With the elections around the corner, people have their fingers crossed, hoping for their leaders to win the election.
