LAHORE: The stage is set for the first phase of local polls in Lahore’s 274 union councils, with the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf dominating the show.

Independent candidates are another force that may give a tough time to the candidates backed by political parties. The PPP is struggling to stay on the political scene as very few of its candidates are contesting the election on party ticket. The PPP, despite making efforts, could not find candidates in most of the union councils, even at councillor seats.

There are 4.34 million registered voters including 1.856 million women in Lahore.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has established 3,269 polling stations, of which 839 have been declared highly sensitive and 2,430 sensitive. Army has also been called in to assist the law-enforcement agencies to monitor the highly sensitive polling stations. More than 20,000 policemen have been assigned the duty of security at polling stations.

The ECP supplied the election material to the polling stations and also released funds to the returning officers to pay remunerations to the polling personnel.

In order to ensure peace during the polling, the police have categorised the city in terms of sensitivity at polling stations and assigned duties in black and white. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf says no sensitive place would be left unguarded. He said a special crackdown had been launched against illegal weapons.

The PTI leaders are hopeful to get mass public support following its extensive campaigning and creating political awareness among people. Its leaders say the party would come up as a major political party in Lahore and ensure that people’s problems are resolved at local level.

Similarly, the PML-N leadership seems equally optimistic about its success on most seats claiming that the government has served the people of Lahore.

The two parties extravagantly spent on their campaigns and attracted potential voters with promises. Streets and roads remained agog with corner meetings and song and dance.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2015

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