FAISALABAD, Jan 1: Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) candidates are in a fix after the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, as their supporters are not ready to reopen their election offices fearing the possible wrath of the latter party, Dawn has learnt.

On the contrary, nominees of the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) have started campaigning and are visiting their constituencies. Election offices of the PPP and PML-N have started their activities and workers are displaying fresh banners and posters of their candidates.

PPP candidates attend their elections offices where voters visit them to offer their condolence over the tragic killing of Ms Bhutto. The aspirants urge their constituents to join hands with the party to revenge the assassination of the late Bhutto through the restoration of democracy. Faisalabad is home to 11 national and 22 provincial seats.

Prior to the killing of Benazir, the PML-Q was taking lead in electioneering through using party and governmental resources to help its candidates win the favour of the voters.

The mass agitation over the tragic death of the PPP leader outside Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on Dec 27, however, forced PML-Q candidates and their supporters to duck into safe places to avoid public wrath.

A police officer, requesting not to be named, said most of the PML-Q candidates had contacted the police to know about the reaction of the public towards the party after the demise of Ms Bhutto.

He said the party had organised a public gathering on Dec 27 at Tandlianwala addressed by former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi.

Sources said the Punjab government was the ‘host’ of the event as most of the city district government officers were involved in arranging the gathering. Chief Minister’s Secretariat Deputy Secretary Iftikhar Saho was seen visiting the district a day before the event to review arrangements.

Faisal Ali, PML-Q candidate’s supporter requesting not to mention his constituency, told Dawn that he had removed all publicity boards and shut his election office after the death of the former premier. He said the PML-Q candidates bore all expenses of his election office and publicity boards. He said after four days of the incident, he had not resumed the office because masses were openly talking against the PML-Q and would not tolerate its supporters.

Political circles say PML-Q candidates want the polls postponed because the current scenario would benefit the PPP aspirants. They say that now assassination of the Bhutto is talk of the town while no one wants to discuss billions of rupees development works executed by the PML-Q government.