LAHORE: South Punjab will be witnessing heightened political activity in the coming days and weeks as three major political parties -- the ruling PML-N, opposition PPP and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) – have plans to target voters of the region.

PML-N president Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam would address public meetings in Multan and Rahim Yar Khan, respectively, by the end of this month after their return from London, a close aide of the ex-premier told Dawn here on Thursday.

More public interaction of the PML-N leadership, particularly of Ms Maryam, was also being planned to woo the youth of the countryside, he said.

The PTI has already organised a couple of public meetings addressed by its chairman Imran Khan in the cotton belt – Khanewal, Layyah and Chishtian – while the party will also hold an event in Okara on Dec 17.

Naturally, the PPP is also eyeing the area, which used to be its stronghold. Party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address a public meeting in Multan on Friday (today), while he has already spoke to the masses in Sahiwal.

Bilawal was quoted as telling a party meeting in Lahore on Thursday that he would address more public meetings in Punjab after observing death anniversary of slain party chairperson and his mother Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, Larkana, on Dec 27. The central Punjab leadership was also asked to finalise plans for public meetings in the area under their jurisdiction.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2017