BAHAWALPUR: Like elsewhere in the province, the ruling PML-N has fielded maximum number of local poll candidates in the city, followed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, while the both PPP and PML-Q have only “token” participation in the contest to be held here on Dec 5.

The PPP has fielded candidates for chairman and vice-chairman seats only in two union councils of the city, besides eight others for general councillor slots in four UCs.

A number of local PML-Q leaders claim the party was in an “election alliance”

PML-Q, that was once (under Musharraf regime) top on most candidates’ priority has declined sow low on popularity chart that even those who are closely associated with the party leadership are shy of using the ‘bicycle’ as their election symbol and contesting as independents.

Former tehsil nazim Malik Zahid Channar and PML(Q) district secretary general Tariq Majeed are two such examples. So the party could field no candidate in all the 21 UCs falling under municipal corporation.

PML-N, PTI leading, with PPP, ‘Q’ down and out

JI leader MPA Dr Syed Waseam Akhtar has confirmed the contention.

The JI has fielded only 6 and 33 candidates for the slots of UC chairmen and general councillors, respectively, while JUI-F is contesting for only one chairman slot and eight general councillors’.

PML-N, being the ruling party, has fielded maximum number of candidates in 18 UCs out of 21 for the slots of chairmen/vice-chairmen and 86 others for general councillors’ slots.

The party has already captured UC No 2 where its chairman, vice-chairmen and councillors had already been declared elected unopposed.

Most of those elected unopposed are said to be related to Punjab Cooperatives minister Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar.

It is being closely followed by PTI that has pitched 17 candidates for chairman slot, besides 74 for the general councillor seats.

The decline of both PPP and PML-Q to such an extent is a constant source of disappointment for their local workers.

The diehard PPP workers like Chaudhry Farzand Ali, Irshad Siroya are “waiting for a miracle” that could revive their party.

They have no other option but to be “optimistic”, hoping the days are not far when their party would regain its popularity and prove its strength in the next general elections.

Despite having internal differences, the local PML-N leadership has manged to run a good campaign as almost all of its candidates for top UC slots were going strong in their respective municipal corporation constituencies, obviously having the “edge” of being with the ruling party.

The streets and bazaars of the city are full with “lion” and “bat” images while it is hard to spot any banner with “arrow” or “bicycle” symbols.

The candidates of PTI, which is the only challenger to ruling PML-N, looked upbeat and were running door-to-door campaigns.

The PML-N candidates look relaxed, mainly depending on government support, which was apparently being denied to them by administration.

Government officials claim they are impartial and that the local election is sole domain of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015