RAWALPINDI: The PML-N restarted its election campaign in the garrison city on Sunday with its activists wearing black armbands, following a protest against the accountability court verdict in the Avenfield reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his son-in-law retired Capt Mohammad Safdar.

“Local leaders changed the schedule for a few days after the verdict, but the message conveyed to them by the party leadership was to pay attention to the election campaign and start work to welcome Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz at the airport on their arrival in the homeland soon,” a senior party leader told Dawn.

He said party workers would be mobilised to welcome the party leadership in the coming days, when they are expected to land in Islamabad. Workers will be at the airport whether they land in Islamabad or Lahore.

Workers to be mobilised to welcome Nawaz, Maryam

The party leader said the campaign strategy had changed, and party leaders had been asked to answer to opponents aggressively. The party has decided to focus on areas with large numbers of party workers and supporters.

The party has also activated its social media cell and is distributing information about the leadership through social media teams, he said.

The PML-N has also reached out to influential figures in various areas and asked them to contact traders associations, to launch protests against inflation by the caretaker government.

PML-N leader Malik Shakil Awan said party candidates were focused on their campaigns and canvassing, but the party would show its strength upon Mr Sharif’s arrival.

He said opponents would benefit if party leaders abandon campaigning, adding that the party’s protest had been recorded and people were aware of it.

Mr Awan also accused the district administration of favouring the PML-N’s opponents, saying its posters and banners were being removed while opponents’ banners were still in place in the city.

Former MNA Tahira Aurangzeb told Dawn campaigning would continue as normal, and candidates had been asked to pay attention to meeting with voters.

“We are not afraid to the people, as we worked hard in the last five years and now we will get votes from the people on the basis of our performance. Billions of rupees were spent on development, and people accorded a warm welcome to PML-N candidates,” she said.

She said the PML-N was campaigning on two points: respect for the vote, and vote for performance.

She added that the people would “give a warm welcome” to Mr Sharif and Ms Nawaz whether they land in Lahore or Islamabad, and “the propaganda of opponents will end when the people vote for Nawaz on July 25”.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2018