GUJRAT: In the absence of the candidates from the mainstream parties like the PML-N and the PPP, as well as the traditional faces of the local politics, has rendered the electoral battle for NA-64 and PP-31 constituencies of Gujrat city dull and drab.

Moreover, lackluster election campaigns by the Pakistan Tehree-i-Insaf (PTI) candidates due to the difficulties being faced by them, has also marred the electioneering in Gujrat city.

Though the PPP candidate from PP-31, Fakhar Pagganwala, withdrew from the race in favour of the PML-Q aspirant as per his party’s direction, and its leadership awarded tickets in NA-64 (Gujrat city-Kunjah) to Mobeen Arshad and Azfar Badar in PP-32 (Kunjah), their campaigns are hardly visible in these constituencies.

Only the campaign of the PML-Q candidates, including Salik Hussain from NA-64 and PP-32, and Shafay Hussain from PP-31, is visible on ground, with the motorcades of both sons of the party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, are accorded protocol by police vehicles escorting them.

Apart from the Q aspirants, the candidates of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) are also campaigning in these constituencies.

Similarly, the campaign of PTI candidates -- Qaisra Elahi in NA-64, Mudassar Raza in PP-31 and Parvez Elahi in PP-32 -- also lacks political fervour. Most of the PTI candidates are relying on social media and phone calls for electioneering.

A former lawmaker from Gujrat, while commenting on the situation, apprehends that this lack of traditional fervour in the local electioneering may dampen the voters’ spirit and have an adverse impact on their turnout on the polling day in Gujrat.

He says that even the candidates of PML-Q, JI, TLP and some independents have so far not arranged any big rally in Gujrat city and are concentrating on small corner meetings and indoor gatherings. However, those of the PTI have been unable to even arrange such small shows.

In the previous elections, the candidates of mainstream parties would organise big public rallies by inviting their central leaderships to mobilise the voters, he says and added that the lack of public mobilisation had actually left the electioneering dull.

The city would witness enthusiastic campaigns in the previous elections over the last three decades, with traditional rivals like PML’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and PPP’s Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar contesting against each other, along with their allied candidates for the Punjab Assembly seats, including late Mian Mushtaq Pagganwala (PPP) and Mian Imran Masood (PML) competing for Gujrat city’s seat.

Party leaders like late Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Hussain Ahmed and others would address huge election rallies in Gujrat. This time one of the party heads have so far addressed any rally in Gujrat.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2024