RAWALPINDI, Oct 5: An intense Ikhlas vs Kiani contest is on the cards in the polling on Thursday (today) to elect city district nazim for the next four years. Tariq Kiani, the former district nazim, is being supported by opposition groups’ Awam Dost panel of the Pakistan People’s Party, Jamhooriat Nawaz of the PML (N), Al-Khidmat of Jamaat-i- Islami and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf. He claims to be getting support from dissident groups of the ruling PML.

Raja Javed Ikhlas, the former district naib nazim, is the government party’s nominee for the slot.

Mr Kiani looks to be strong in the northern belt comprising Rawal, Kallar Syedan, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian and Murree towns, whereas Mr Ikhlas seems better placed in Gujar Khan, Potohar and Taxila towns.

On the whole, it is a well-balanced contest because Mr Ikhlas’ power base of Gujar Khan and Potohar have a large share in the electoral college.

There are a total of 2,166 votes in city district nazim’s electoral college. The votes’ breakdown of different towns is: Rawal 590 votes, Potohar 443, Taxila 127, Gujar Khan 401, Kallar Syedan 132, Kahuta 171, Kotli Sattian 121 and Murree 181.

Twenty-four polling stations have been set up in the district, three each in a town.

The contest in the eight towns is more or less inclined in favour of the government-backed candidates because of division in the opposition ranks.

These elections witnessed one of the most high profile campaigns in the district.

The election code of conduct was blatantly violated by most of the candidates.

A more glaring violation noticed was that of exceeding the expenditure limit. The candidates for nazims’ office can spend a maximum of Rs500,000, but are estimated to have spent well over Rs20 to Rs30 million each.

The candidates subsequently cover up this expenditure as donations, gifts and contributions by friends and supporters.

Besides nazims, the members contesting on seats reserved for peasants, farmers and minorities have spent massively on their campaigns, some of them spending up to Rs10 million.

Involvement of ministers in the campaign was yet another violation of the code. These ministers not only participated in the campaigns but also announced huge development packages, constituting another violation of the code.

Moreover, observers feel that government’s influence was more effective this time.

Buying of votes, although an old phenomenon, achieved new dimensions. Political observers feel that involvement of money increased during these elections. A significant number of votes, most of women and minorities councillors, were available for sale and in Murree a single vote was bought for about Rs700,000.

For the first time in the country’s electoral history, voters in the local government elections were hauled to Murree hotels to keep them out of the influence of opponents.

The use of derogatory language against opponents remained the hallmark of the entire campaign.

Another feature of the campaign was the complacency of the opposition camp and hypocrisy of voters. The component parties of the opposition could not agree on joint candidates for most of the towns providing a better chance to the government backed candidates.

A large number of members of the electoral college refused to clearly identify themselves with any particular candidate and rather satisfied all the candidates by promising them their votes.