September 1, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Saani 22,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Leaders and workers of all major political parties are in utter confusion as none of them is sure how to go about the shortest-ever election campaign in the country’s electoral history.

The People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (N) and PML (QA) have yet to finalize their campaign strategies.

Spokesmen of the PPP and PML(N) had no answer to the questions as to from where and when their campaign would be launched.

The political parties are also not sure how many of their candidates would get through the process of scrutiny, besides being haunted by doubts about holding of elections.

“We will finalize the campaign strategy after the completion of scrutiny of papers,” PPP Central Information Secretary Taj Haider told Dawn by phone.

Haider said there were still doubts whether the government was really serious in holding elections.

“Our manifesto is ready but we will launch it only when we are sure of elections,” he added.

The situation, particularly in Sindh, was very uncertain and no one was sure as to who would be cleared by the Election Commission and who would be shown the door, he said.

PML(N) Central Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooq said his party’s campaign would be launched formally after Sept 12.

However, the party was still in the process of finalizing the manifesto.

The Pakistan Muslim League (QA), which had announced its manifesto several weeks ago, had also yet to finalize their campaign plan.

The cancellation of nomination papers of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and acceptance of papers of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Kulsoom Nawaz has added to the confusion.

Haider said they would build up their election campaign gradually. Farooq said they would launch their campaign with a very impressive show of strength in one of the big city.

The National Alliance, which had reached an understanding with the PML (QA) has not lined up any joint public meeting.

In many parts, particularly in Punjab, they are trying to reach electoral adjustments.

However, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, an alliance of several different religious parties, has already launched their campaign through a ‘train march’, defying the ban on political activities but failing to draw crowds.

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