RAWALPINDI: Compared to their impressive outing in the 2013 general elections, the PTI apparently failed to give the PML-N a tough time, despite expectations that it would fare much better in the garrison city than it had in other parts of Punjab.

This came as a surprise to many, because PTI seemed to be the party most active on polling day and, ahead of the polls, seemed to be more energetic in their campaigns.

In 2013, the party had grabbed two national assembly seats, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s NA-55 and PTI chief Imran Khan’s seat, NA-56, as well as provincial assembly seats in PP-11, PP-12 and PP-13.

Despite impressive campaign, PTI faces near-rout; PPP all but wiped out

However, following their unimpressive showing in the Islamabad LG polls, the PML-N high command seemed it was in no mood to cede any further political space to the upstarts in opposition.

There were, however, close contests in several wards. PTI gave the ruling party a run for its money in five union councils of the city, including UC-40 Purana Qila, where PTI supported Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s nephew Rashid Shafique.

In UC-42 Dhoke Khabba, PTI was up against PML-N stalwart Sajjad Khan, who is one of three men tipped to become mayor if the ruling party sweeps Rawalpindi. But the party vote here was divided, with one PTI candidate running as an independent.

In UC-36 Mohanpura, PTI was challenging the might of PML-N City President Sardar Naseem. Though the party had an alliance with Sheikh Rashid’s AML and JI and fielded a joint candidate here, initial results did not bode too well for them.

In UC-19 Satellite Town, PTI’s mayoral candidate Rana Suhail was up against PML-N’s Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Butt. However, dissident activist Imran Hayat, who was not awarded a ticket, also contested as an independent candidate, further dividing the vote.

In UC-38 Waris Khan, PTI supported Anjum Farooq Paracha – brother of PPP City President Amir Fida Paracha – against PML-N’s Sardar Tariq, who has been contested elections in this area since 1979.

However, despite the apparent rout, it was clear that the only established party that could challenge the ruling PML-N in the city areas was the PTI.

Opposition vacuum

Though the PML-N is still calling the shots in the garrison city, PTI managed to insert itself in place of the now-beleaguered PPP. In previous local government elections in 2005, PPP became the main opposition party and challenged the ruling PML-Q and PML-N.

However, political observers said that building on the experience of the last general elections, PTI had greatly improved its organisation and was learning how to contest elections, at least in urban areas.

Former PML-N MNA Malik Shakil Awan was of the view that this time around, it was the PTI, not the PPP, that was the major challenge. He said that in many areas, the PPP men had thrown in the towels and were supporting PTI and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

PTI MPA Arif Abbasi admitted that with the arrival of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the party’s position had improved and local leaders were learning how to better contest elections.

He said that the party had faced a setback in NA-56 because they did not award tickets to the right people, but the situation in NA-55 was better as Sheikh Rashid is said to have advised the party on the selection of candidates here, as well as forging alliances with old PPP workers.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2015