The campaign for the upcoming by-elections, though highly lacklustre with political rivals never making a conscious effort to challenge each other, came to end in Lahore on Tuesday night without seemingly creating any impact on 16 National and 26 provincial assembly seats that are to be contested on August 22.
As the campaign drew to a close, the candidates in the field made last-ditch effort to appeal to their constituents without the backing of their top leadership which remained far-removed from the scene of action in most cases.
The chances of any surprises are minimum, with the political pundits saying elections are overwhelmingly tilting in favour of the ruling classes everywhere though some tight contests, mostly for the National Assembly seats, are again expected between the PTI and the PML-N.
Mostly the campaign by political parties was driven by the desire to maintain their hold over the constituencies they won in the May 11 general elections.
As such all the leaders involved in the campaign focused more on the constituencies where for them success was almost absolute or where they expected some face saving options. For example Imran Khan mainly appeared in the constituencies across the country where the PTI stands better chances to score a victory. Both the Sharif brothers remained away from the scene throughout the campaign making their scion, Hamza Shahbaz show his leadership qualities in the by-polls. However, the timing of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s first address to the nation proved to be a real bonus for the PML-N and its candidates.
Some analysts believe that the timing, a day before the campaign closure, was not a mere coincidence and so could yield political dividends for the ruling party already set to win the elections up to the extent of Punjab.
Lahore:
Political analysts say they have not seen any election taking place in the city despite a lot was at stake if one takes into account number of seats up for grabs in the historic city. Here one National assembly and three provincial assembly seats are being contested by main political parties. The Lahoriites have not seen top leaders nor there was much campaigning or activity associated with elections was witnessed. There was hardly any effort from PTI to challenge PML (N) in its heartland.
Imran Khan concluded the campaign on Tuesday with a flurry of activity limited only to NA-129 where he made three public appearances and addressed the public, leaving all provincial assembly constituencies uncovered giving almost a walk-over to the rival PML-N.
In NA-129, the PTI has a faint hope in the form of its candidate Mansha Sindhu, creating waves in the area but here too the PML-N is in a formidable position.
In Lahore, the elections will be held in NA-129, PP-142, PP-150 and Pp-160. These seats have been vacated by PML-N candidates. Hence, the PML-N candidates are feeling quite comfortable in the absence of a joint strategy by the opposition.
NA-129:
It is a two-way fight with the PTI making last ditch efforts to woo the constituents there. The seat has been vacated by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. This time the PML-N has awarded a ticket to Shazia Mubashir, wife of PML-N leader Mubashir Rana. PPP’s Muhammad Ashraf Bhatti is also in the field though lagging way behind.
Imran Khan on Tuesday held three rallies and took a round of the constituency to bolster support for PTI. However, the PMLN’s position further improved recently when Yousaf Ghurki, a local influential joined the PML-N and pledged his support to Rana campaigning for his wife.
PP-142:
Here Khwaja Salman Rafique, brother of Saad Rafique got the party’s nomination. He is being challenged by PTI’s Waqar Ahmad. The PPP has tried Muhammad Idrees.
PP-150:
Here PML-N’s Mian Margoob is considered favourite. He is fighting against PTI’s Mehr Wajid Azeem. It also seems to be a one-sided match with the PTI never tried to challenge the PML-N candidate. The PPP with Asif Nagra is only a distant possibility.
PP-160:
Chaudhry Gulzar Gujjar from the PML-N is leading the race against his main rival Chaudhry Khalid Gujjar (PTI). The PPP here awarded ticket to Rana Akhtar. This seat too has been vacated by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who contested from two provincial seats in May 11 elections. Here too PML-N smells victory.
The PTI is also all set to make public its white paper on rigging in the last elections. The PTI would substantiate its charges with proofs on rigging in the white paper. Sources say the party would gain limelight one more time before elections.
Similarly, in Punjab 15 provincial and seven National Assembly seats are up for grabs, most of which have been vacated by PML-N leaders. However, as far as the National Assembly is concerned, NA-48 and NA-71 are the seats vacated by the PTI. Interesting contests are expected on both these seats.
Political experts say the result of the by-elections is a foregone conclusion in favour of the PML-N being the ruling party with entire administrative machinery at its disposal. Again, the opposition hardly put together an effective strategy to challenge the ruling parties. There was a desire on the part of the TI to hold on to what-ever little gains they have made in the Punjab in the last general elections.
Yes they are favourites after placing the vote rigging experts working for them . For every vote for PTI, 2 PMLN votes are placed by these experts. Simple math, and it is very easy for Nawaz Sharif and his beloved brother.
From,
K.G.VILOP,
INDIA.Contact No.: +91-80-9986930810
Email:- [email protected]
The Pakistan violating the ceasefire in the border of kishtwar, LoC and infiltrating the terrorists in to the India is very shameful. There is a vast proof in regarding to the act done by the Pakistan army with support of terrorists and pak government. Even the top terrorists LeT leader Abdul karim Tunda is spilling a beans of all leading informations to the investigating agency in India. Even former Pakistan ISI chief Abdul Gul, Underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim with ISI cover is also working under the terrorists. Some of the Madrassas in Pakistan is owned by the terrorists leaders is used for recruiting, training poor & Illeterate childrens for terrorists and in dealing with arms and ammunitions. This shows that the Madrassas is not used for preaching Islamic purposes in Pakistan but only for terrorists organizations training. The killing of the Indian soldiers in an ambush in Indian territory, attack at yemen, attack at jalabad embassy and threatening entire nations by the terror outfit like Al-qaeda, JuD, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Taliban, Mujahidin, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, etc., has become dangerous to the nations for attacks against innocent peoples of the country. We are calling for strong reactions against these terrorists from the nations. It is useless to debate the birth of Pakistan which is getting more radical and Talibanized. The attackers and terrorists are well trained in Pakistan with sufficient flow of fund, shelter and food from the Pakistan country itself. Pakistan terrorists are also using fake currency notes to smuggle to india and other parts also. Some of the terrorists is under the cover of ISI in Pakistan which has been proved by the agency. Even the pak will spoil the neighbouring countries by making terrorism country. Pakistan is shed up in more light on the radicalization and methods of indoctrination and recruitment of more terrorists. Pakistan country is the godfather for spreading Islamic terrorism. The pak terrorists will sneak in your country also and make the environment of neighbor country very dirty. If pakistan is not creating terrorists/terrorism then from where terrorists are coming. Are they coming from heaven. Sufficient warn and advice had given from the neighbouring country but pak have not attempted to control the terrorists. Instead of they are encouraging them. Some of the terrorists leader like Mohd. Hafeez Saeed, has given VVIP security and sheltered in Pakistan. The Pakistan has supporting the terrorists groups. Those who give specific information nor behead the terrorists leaders like Mhd. Hafeez Saeed, Ayman –al-Zawahri, Nasser al-wuhaysi, Taliban leaders must be given bounty to the informer. These crookes will poise entire nation. Instead it is better to eliminate these terrorists. I also came to know that some of the terrorists like Mohd. Hafiz
Saeed, osama bin Laden, Ayman-al-Zawahri were beggers and begging in the streets of North Waaristan. Later they became small time thieves. Now they are terrorists and treated as a VVIPs in Pakistan. These beggers are using as Jihadi. But in Pakistan they are not preaching islam. Instead of preaching Islam they are preaching terrorism. Actually Pakistan attack & crossing the LOC has now become a daily affair. Lodging a protest with Islamabad over the killings is the routine response,and it has been done. Countries must read the message of the killings carefully before it moves forward. Pakistan is already in deep crisis due to the coalition with the terrorists. The terrorists are ruling the Pakistan. The environment and conditions for peace are only going to get worse soon, with Afghan situation also becoming a factor in countries relations. It is time to teach fitting lesson to Pakistan, Afganistan. It is pakistan’s very old crooked practice to talk of peace and cooperation to be continuously carried on and then stab in India’s back frequently. The ISI, Army with terrorists of Pakistan is waging a war against the nations. Entire nation should be united in unison manner and to retaliate strongly and warn the Pakistan, Afganistan government. If we go by the past ISI’s track record it is certainly planned for the next five to ten years. The Taliban warning to pakistan government in regarding not to kill militants is nothing but a warning to a global terror. Entire militants should be killed without any mercy and their dead bodies should be thrown to the seashore without handing to their families. Just like the what the Terrorists Osama Bin Laden Fate occurred. Militants should not be given any mercy. What is jihad? Whether it terms to kill innocent people according to the terrorists? The Militants are fools. The Militants will not learn anything unless they are killed, as all the militants/ terrorists head are filled with cow dung. The countries like US, China must seriously engage with India and other global powers so that they could rein in Pakistan diplomatically. The US forces/Nato-led combat troops should not be withdrawn until all the terrorists groups have been dismantled nor eliminated. The terrorists/ militants should be eradicated from the earth. Till that drone attack or launch attack must be proceeded wherever the terrorists has been sheltered in Pakistan, Afghanistan land.
Dont you have any thing else to do.
oooo
PML N is a party of corrupt and riggers A designed EC gave them the chance to come into power. They cheated the voters of Pakistan especially PTI was the victim Voters do have a right to know and take the government into Courts if there is a justice which is not in sight at the moment when SC sits quiet seeing all the injustice done with the other parties.
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