KARACHI, Sept 25: Election tempo in the Old City areas, particularly Saddar, Lyari towns and rural and katchi abadis in Keamari and Baldia towns, is picking up as elections are approaching.

In Old City areas, flags and banners of political parties are visible at public places and apparently give a festive look, but there is a dull campaigning. Even half of the traditional disco, dust and excitement is not visible on streets, despite the fact that the campaign has entered a crucial stage.

Although candidates have started holding corner meetings to mobilize voters, they have failed to attract big crowds — a normal occurrence on such occasions in the past.

Admitting that the turn-out in the corner meetings is not impressive in the ensuing elections, a candidate said the public by and large seemed to be fed up with the “politics of promises” because of the failure of politicians to deliver the goods in the past.

In the former district South, NA-248 is considered to be a stronghold of the PPP and NA-249 of the MQM since 1988, as these parties have been dominating the electoral politics in both these constituencies. At present, both the parties have engaged themselves in a fierce battle to retain their traditional seats.

Similarly, in the old district West, NA-239 is the hub of political activity where an interesting fight is expected between the PPP, the NA and SDA and the PML-Nawaz.

This time a new factor has emerged in the electoral arena: the religious factor. The six-party religious alliance — Muttahida Majlis Amal — and the Sunni Tehrik have also put up their candidates in the contest and launched a vigorous projection campaign.

The election symbols, party flags and banners of the MMA and the ST are prominently visible in their respective constituencies.

According to observers, the most significant aspect of the October elections is that for the first time in Pakistan’s history, the real strength of the religious vote will be brought to the fore — something which could not be determined in the previous elections. Apart from this factor, they say the elections promise a little.

In the previous two elections, the voters were forced to divide into the PPP and the anti-PPP group but this time the situation promises a single party for every voter.

For the first time since 1970, the battle-line has been drawn without the separate bloc votes, merging into one.

The only question puzzling everybody is whether the elections 2002 will change the destiny of the nation in terms of economic and political stability.

Given the experiences of the previous elections, analysts predict with certainty that Pakistan’s political scene will continue to present a confusing picture in the coming weeks.

It seems that a period of uncertainty will persist for some time in the near future. The only prediction one can make is that the turnout will not be larger than the 1997 elections as witnessed in the electioneering, so far.

Given the balance of forces, these observers say the October elections will be strikingly different from the earlier polls, where alliances played a major role.