MQM vows to stage massive rallies: PPP, ANP plan to keep public exposure to a minimum

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP), both vulnerable to militants' threats, are contemplating minimising their public rallies. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which was also among parties that were issued serious threats by militants, has vowed to go ahead with mammoth rallies in its stronghold Karachi and Hyderabad as well as other parts of the interior Sindh.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had warned people to avoid rallies of parties that were part of the former ruling alliance particularly those of PPP, MQM and ANP.
PPP, the majority seat holder in the 2008 general elections, is at present facing serious difficulties in running a major political campaign because of security threats. Sources in the party said that the PPP had constituted a committee to devise a strategy for running the elections campaign under which the body will point out the most vulnerable areas across the country where it would avoid major public rallies.
PPP insiders said that the party's patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will avoid public gatherings during the campaign and he would address some selective constituencies in Sindh.
The major task has been given to former prime ministers - Raja Parvez Ashraf and Yousuf Raza Gilani, to lead the party's election campaign, they added.
They said that the major focus will be on door-to-door campaign to motivate voters, besides using the social media as an effective tool to reach voters and propagate its manifesto for the upcoming general elections.
"We are aware of the threats that the party and our leadership is facing because of our government's clear stance against militancy and the militants. And we will use all other options in areas where we feel a threat to our workers and leadership", said Taj Haider, a senior PPP leader, adding that the party lost its late chairperson Benazir Bhuto and many other jeyalas while fighting militancy.
ANP, which is also on the hit-list of the terrorists, is also planning to avoid major public gatherings by holding small corner meetings. Senator Haji Adeel, the senior vice-president of ANP, said that the party had decided to limit its election campaign only to corner meetings, door-to-door contacts with its voters and small rallies.
MQM's spokesman Wasay Jalil said that though threats were there not only against his party but also other political forces that have adopted a clear stance against militancy yet he was confident that MQM "will manage to hold huge public gatherings".
"We recently held a huge public gathering in Naushero Feroze despite threats and we will continue with the same zeal," Jalil said, adding that the electioneering will gain momentum as the election day approaches.
However, sources in the Interior Ministry said that the three parties -PPP, ANP and MQM - were vulnerable and the Ministry, in co-ordination with provinces and other security agencies, was devising a strategy to ensure security to all political parties.