LAHORE - With intensified preparations underway by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for its rally on October 28 and by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) for its October 30 rally, an apparent cutthroat competition to politically supersede each other, the Sharif brothers are under severe pressure to maintain their political domination and reprove their invincible stature in Punjab, especially in Lahore.
This is the first time the PML-N is facing new political rival the PTI, which looks firm to outsmart the PML-N on its home ground by organising a major big public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan to outdo the PML-N rally at Nasir Bagh. “Being a new entrant, Imran has a win-win situation. If he fails to gather the public, he will receive minimum damage. However, if the PML-N does not put up a mega show, Nawaz Sharif’s popularity will hit rock bottom,” a senior PML-N leader said.
He said for several reasons, the Sharifs were little nervous in dealing with the upcoming “show of rallies”, believing that the PML-N had an unconquerable vote bank and was blessed with full services of state machinery for creating a real thriller on October 28. However, if Imran Khan, an immature politician according to the PML-N, put up an outstanding performance by gathering thousands of people, it would cast a bad omen on Sharifs, he opined.
“Punjab and its capital Lahore is believed to be the citadel of the PML-N, which has been also proven by results of last election in which the PML-N got sweeping victory in Punjab and broke all previous record in Lahore by winning all seats, except one for the PPP. The PML-N is also enjoying its government in Punjab. Despite all gains, the PML-N leadership is uncertain about the success of its October 28 meeting,” the former member of PML-N CWC revealed.
It would also be a litmus test for the PML-N ahead of general election, as whoever puts up a better show is expected to sweep the election. The PML-N has good track record of public shows, substantiated by its huge rallies during the governor’s rule in Punjab. But the question remains whether the feat can be repeated. As rally day draws closer, the situation heats up, as the PML-N and PTI have unleashed a massive display of banners, corner meetings and establishing camps at all major intersections of the city.
Both parties have hired drummers and installed stereos at their respective camps, which are heavily embellished with party flags, leaders’ pictures and buntings. The PML-N has held various small public meetings in connection with the October 28 public meeting to be taken out from Nasir Bagh to Bhaati Chowk. Most of them have been addressed by Hamza Shahbaz, considered to be the political heir of the Sharif brothers and PML-N firebrand Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The PTI has also organized various functions to keep the morale high. But on the issue of luxurious arrangements regarding camps, events and transportation, people feel the PTI is being funded by the establishment or agencies, as such extravagance was beyond the party’s sources. Meanwhile, the PTI leadership accused the PML-N of removing their banners, saying the banner-removal drive was a sign of panic on part of the Sharifs.
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