KARACHI, Sept 12: Although the general elections are barely a month away, but there has been an inexplicable lack of popular involvement of people in the electioneering.

Most of the people say that they had gone to the polls many times in the past and this time too the exercise is unlikely to change their destiny.

The government-controlled media and other independent networks have been busy in carrying out an unending political rhetoric, completely unaware of the fact that their messages are creating no impact on the thinking of the people.

Since they have no idea or ideology to sell, the past episodes of the same story of the same author are being repeated — democracy vs dictatorship, corruption, failure of politicians and glorifying the army rules by comparing it with the wrongdoings of the past elected governments.

These are some of the issues which are repeated again and again and the common man has no interest in it, while issues of daily concern pertaining to the fast-deteriorating economic conditions and matters of security are being ignored or mentioned for reference purposes only.

On the other hand, the political parties seem to have lost the initiative. Their actions are based on political exigency.

They seem to be not aware of the decisive factor in politics: people of Pakistan have been facing worst economic conditions for the past three decades.

The political parties have always betrayed the masses in their lust for power. The people have now become completely fed up with politics of rhetoric and want a change in their socio- economic condition.

On the other hand, political workers agree that there has been a lack of enthusiasm among the people about the polls. However, they interpret the situation differently.

According to them, disillusionment among the people has been due to the uncertain economic and political conditions, besides failure of politicians to deliver and the ban imposed till recently on political rallies are some of the reasons making the electioneering devoid of any lively process.

It is for this reason that campaigns of some of the parties have been merely limited to their workers who are engaged in activities but the election offices of the parties still lack traditional political enthusiasm as witnessed in the previous elections.

They believe that restriction on election campaign and strict code of conduct for the political parties are the main factors causing delay in effective and lively election campaign.

A survey of the city showed that few banners and wall-posters were seen in the traditional constituencies of the two major power contenders — the PPP and the MQM. There were no traditional fanfares which had been often witnessed during elections.

The MQM launched its campaign by holding a workers’ convention which was attended by the party’s candidates from all over the country, while the newly-formed alliance of six religious parties — Muttahida Majlis Amal — also held its first public meeting in the city recently.

In the forefront are the National Alliance, the Sindh Democratic Alliance and the MMA.

They have yet to launch their political activities to demonstrate their popular support despite the fact that the candidates of these parties have kicked off their campaigns by holding corner meetings.

Observers also point out the absence of some charismatic leadership in the political field which had always played a key role in mobilising the masses.

According to them, the ouster of key leadership of the major parties from the electoral scene has put the second rank leadership of these parties in a dilemma as they have to set the party in order and make arrangements for seat adjustments with the like-minded parties.

“It is a very formidable task and a great challenge to the leadership which will ultimately decide the fate of their political parties,” they added.

So far, parties on both sides of the divide are still busy in consultation for finalising the list of consensus candidates and adjustment of seats with other like-minded parties, despite the fact that the government has lifted the restriction on political activities from Sept 1.