RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has shifted its election campaign in the garrison city to top gear which until last week had been moving at a snail’s pace due to distribution of tickets.

The party has also submitted an application with the deputy commissioner for holding a public meeting in Liaquat Bagh on January 28.

According to a senior district administration official, a report has been sought from the District Intelligence Committee and the final permission will be given once the report is received.

Earlier, there was little enthusiasm among party supporters and workers but it soon increased after it was announced that party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would be arriving in the garrison city on January 28.

In the city areas, the party has opened its central election offices and brought back old workers to join the election campaign.

Workers were of the view that the PPP leadership should visit the city so that electioneering could gain momentum, otherwise the party might fail to achieve the desired results.

Former PPP City president and candidate from PP-16 Amir Fida Paracha told Dawn that the party had planned a number of public meetings of its chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, including in Liaquat Bagh.

“The dates have been finalised and the public meeting will be held in Liaquat Bagh where Benazir Bhutto gave her last speech,” he said, adding that party workers and supporters were anxiously waiting for their leader.

Mr Jadoon said they had informed the district administration to make adequate security arrangements for Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during his visit to the city.

“In 2013, the party was forced against running its campaign aggressively but times have changed. We will not accept any restriction on our election campaign,” he said, adding that the campaign would further improve in the coming days.

For the first time, the party had given a ticket to an ordinary worker for the national and provincial assembly seats in the main city area, he added.

On the other hand, some PPP workers were of the view that the party had started the campaign late in the garrison city.

A party worker, Mohammad Nasir, said: “PPP banners and posters became visible in the city only last week”, adding that the party should also use social media for its election campaign.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2024