TAXILA: As the countdown for the much-awaited local government elections in cantonment boards has begun, political parties havestarted flexing their muscles by launching electioneering in Taxila and Wah.

The elections are scheduled to be held on September 9. Local leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamaat-i-Islami have launched electioneering for their candidates. Besides ticket holders of different political parties, a large number of independent candidates have also launched campaigns after they were allotted symbols by the returning officers. The candidates had suspended their political activities for Ashura but on Saturday they started holding public meetings, corner meetings as well as door-to-door contacts. Colourful banners of candidates with the portraits of their local and national party leaders have been installed in the city, especially at public places and markets.

Former prime minister and PML-N central leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited the city along with former member Punjab assembly Umer Farooq to drum up electioneering of their candidates. Addressing the party candidates, Mr Abbasi said the party would not leave open the electoral field to its rivals and would field candidates in all the constituencies.

With the new delimitation this year, the number of wards in Taxila Cantonment has increased from two to five. These wards include Margalla, Wahdat Colony, Kohsar Colony, Muslim Colony, Railway Colony, Bilal Colony, Shahpur, Bhirdargahi, Dhoke Wajan and Dhoke Choura.

Federal Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan along with his son MNA Mansoor Hayat Khan and nephew Ammar Sadeeq Khan announced the names of his party candidates for Taxila.

For the elections in the Cantonment Board Wah, 70 candidates are in the run in 10 constituencies. Although all political parties and local groups have fielded their candidates, one to one contest is expected in nine out of the 10 constituencies. The PTI has not awarded tickets to any candidate in Ward-7 due to internal differences over the award of the ticket.

As the PTI has psychological supremacy in the area, the PML-Nhas made all-out efforts to retain its stronghold. It had won three constituencies in the previous cantonment board elections in Wah but could not grab any seat in Taxila.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has also launched its candidates in a few constituencies. Pakistan Awami Tehreek, which announced its candidates in the previous elections, is seen nowhere in the current political arena while other political parties, including JI and PPP, are not in a position to make any breakthrough.

Although all parties have started preparations for the elections, most of their leaders are convinced that a delay in the elections can benefit the PTI.

Zaheer Hussain Shah Zaildar, a known political personality of the area, told Dawn that in the rural areas the clan factor would play a major factor while in urban areas more consideration would be given to party tickets rather than personalities.

He said the PTI was utilising all forms of social media to target the youth and this factor would play a decisive role on the polling day.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2021

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