LAHORE: Although the Pakistan Muslim League- -Nawaz (PML-N) government is determined to complete its constitutional term in power, it’s started making preparations for the next general elections if “imposed” earlier than the schedule.

“The central leadership has not only directed a couple of technocrats to begin work on party manifesto but is also looking into some thorny issues that had earlier been left to the second tier,” a source privy to the development told Dawn on Monday.

The PML-N leadership was now directly handling the dialogue with religious elements on some contentious issues which had earlier been held by a couple of Punjab cabinet members, he said.

According to the source, party president Nawaz Sharif is also set to address a public meeting in Kot Momin, Sargodha, in a couple of weeks “to test the level of voters’ discomfort” after Pir Sialvi’s campaign against the government when it failed to appropriately and timely handle Khatm-e-Nabuwat issue.

He said the technocrats, who had given their input for the party’s previous election manifesto, had again been asked to come up with a vibrant document for the 2018 polls.

Publicity material comprising promos containing slogans that highlighted the achievements made by the PML-N government so far – overcoming energy crisis, improved law and order, better road and transport networks and housing (Ashiyana) projects – was also being given a final shape, he added.

All these preparations, he said, showed the party would not be caught unawares if elections were “imposed” despite its efforts to complete the term in power.

Central information secretary Mushahidullah Khan confirmed that election activity within the party had been started, though informally.

“No one has been formally notified to prepare the manifesto or conduct any other election-related business,” he claimed. Mr Khan said formal activities would start only when the party would conduct a survey on influence of various biradaries (clans) and notables in their respective areas.

The source said the party was already working to “expose” development claims of rival parties, particularly of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Referring to Imran Khan’s “one-billion tree” claim, he said some international agencies were questioning whether Pakistan had the required number of saplings for the purpose.

Alleged wrongdoings in award of mines contracts and procurement of medicines for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa public hospitals from a company “owned by a PTI leader” were some other issues the PML-N would focus on during its election campaign, he added.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2017