Election fever yet to grip Lahore

With only 14 days left in 2013 General Elections, no traditional fervour and enthusiasm is seen so far with regard to election campaign from any major political party in Lahore which is Pakistan's second biggest and the capital of the most populous province Punjab.
Although all the main parties, ie PML-N, PTI, PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami, have fielded its candidates on 13 seats of National Assembly and 26 seats of Punjab Assembly but election fever is still to hit this populous city. Disillusionment is certainly high with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)'s five years poor performance in the government but the traditional appetite for election fever is dampened in Lahore.
This is the first time in 66 year history that Pakistan is on its way to vote after experiencing the completion of the full five-year term of a democratically elected government but the journey to the elections is turning out to be a bumpy ride. Intra-party conflicts are also being witnessed on the issue of distribution of election tickets since the workers of each political party are protesting and staying away from election campaign of their respective parties' candidates.
The City of Lahore remained a hub of political activities and it is a true but trite maxim that a political party that comes off with a big public gathering from Lahore gets a position to outrace its opponents across the country. Contrary to the past precedents set in this regard, overall political situation remained stagnant in Lahore.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, former Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, PTI head Imran Khan and Khawaja Saad Rafique are contesting from Lahore but no direct election contest among heavy weights, is not creating election fever.
Although PTI chief Imran Khan kicked off his election campaign from Lahore but impact was not so visible. The PML-N top leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif who are also contesting from Lahore are focusing on other parts of the country. The election campaign of PML-N President for NA-120 is being run by his daughter Maryam Nawaz. She is going door to door to spread the message of the PML-N. On the other hand, election banners of PML-N and PTI candidates are visible while the PPP candidates although in the run are not showing their muscles.