Lahore, known for its strong political traditions, has failed to gain election momentum despite the announcement of an election schedule and filing of nomination papers by few candidates.
The city and its people, known for their liveliness and political interest, appear to be indifferent unlike it used to be in the past general elections where hectic political activities would start, soon after the announcement of the election schedule, but this time neither election offices are open nor citizens are showing any interest.
Candidates' election offices in the past were rife with hectic political activities in every nook and corner of the city where voters were served with breakfast and dinner. Candidates also used various tactics to attract their voters. Today's voters are uncertain mainly because of the emergency, said political activist Hamid Nawaz.
"So far no candidate has started campaigning through setting up the election offices," he said. "If the PML-N participates in the elections and its exiled leaders return home, there will be a brisk election activity [in Lahore]," he added.
When contacted, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Finance Secretary Mohammad Pervaiz Malik said it appeared that the government was in a hurry to complete the formality of elections and recapture quickly public offices while the chances of fair and free elections, under the emergency, the PCO and now the new Amendment of November 21 in the Constitution, looked slim.
Malik said the ruling party had pursued the election campaign since the past one year. "The ruling party has invoked all the government funds and machinery in its election campaign. It has since completed its homework while oppositions leaders, candidates for the National and Provincial Assemblies and their supporters are in jail," he added.
He claimed the caretaker government had released 3,000 prisoners but still more than 3,000 are in jail. "On the other hand, the government has announced the dates for elections at a time when there is no congenial atmosphere in the country. It will be a sheer farce, and if the opposition decides to boycott, it will loose its legal and moral justification," he argued.
There was a heavy rush of candidates in the PML House where elaborate security arrangements were made. A security gate was installed and visitors were allowed entry in the PML House after strict checking.
Yet, there was hardly any visible activity at the PML-N House in Muslim Town and local party leaders available at the office appeared unaware about the programme of return of members of the Sharif family.
Sources said party President Shahbaz Sharif and Kulsoom Nawaz were expected to arrive on Sunday and that Nawaz Sharif was coming back on Monday. The party is meeting on Saturday in Islamabad to mop out a programme about the return of their exiled leaders, sources added.