LAHORE: As the election campaign has entered its final phase, the Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and the other candidates nominated or supported by the party, seem to enjoy majority voters’ confidence in NA-130 (Lahore-14) and NA-119 (Lahore-3).

On the other hand, a tough contest is expected in NA-127 (Lahore-11), where the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar, PTI-backed Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and the Jamaat-i-Islami’s Syed Ehsaan Ullah Waqas are contesting election.

NA-130, which is considered the PML-N’s stronghold in Lahore, consists of populous localities, including Gawalmandi, Old Anarkali, Islampura, Lower Mall, Mozang, Litton Road, Qila

Gujjar Singh, Sanda and Shafiqabad. Total number of registered voters in this constituency is 608,318, including 323,100 male and 285,218 female voters. As many as 376 polling stations, including 161 for male and 148 for female voters, have been established in the constituency.

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NA-119 is also considered another important constituency, as it covers a vast area of Baghbanpura and adjacent localities, Garhi Shahu, Gujjarpura, Harbanspura, Misri Shah, Mughalpura, Shalamar and Race Course. The number of registered voters here is 520,829 including 277,172 male and 243,657 female voters. It has 338 polling stations — 89 each for male and female voters, and 160 combined.

Meanwhile, the registered voters in NA-127 are 527,044, which include 273,014 male and 254,030 female voters. There are total of 337 polling stations, including 141 each for male and female voters and 55 combined, in the constituency that comprises Township, Green Town, Kot Lakhpat, Liaqatabad, Johar Town, Wafaqi Colony and other localities.

“No one can compete the PML-N here, as you will find voters of Sher [lion], the party’s election symbol, everywhere. Despite facing worst-ever crisis in the last general elections, the party had won in this constituency,” Suleman, a voter from Old Anarkali, told Dawn.

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According to Suhail, another voter, PTI nominee Dr Yasmin Rashid will face defeat in NA-130 as no one is openly running her campaign there. He says the PTI voters are, however, canvassing for her silently, fearing police raids. “Dr Yasmin may get a good number of votes, but she will lose the contest finally,” he adds. To a question, he says the PPP’s Iqbal Ahmad Khan, JI’s Khalique Ahmad Butt and MQM (P) candidate Samia Naz have no chance at all.

Another voter, Imran, believes that a large number of young voters will vote for the PTI candidate, and she could give a tough time to Nawaz Sharif. “We are determined to vote for Dr Yasmin, as she, like her leader Imran Khan, is in jail. I don’t know who will win, but we are ready to give a tough time to the PML-N,” he adds.

In NA-119, Maryam Nawaz is going strong as a large number of local party leaders, including Khawaja Imran Nazir, a PML-N candidate from PP-150, are running her campaign. Though Ms Nawaz has held some rallies in her constituency, she is relying mainly on the party leaders deputed for electioneering.

“She is addressing rallies with her father Nawsaz Sharif in other districts and towns, as she does not seem worried about NA-119. She is confident of her victory since there is no competition in the constituency. Moreover, the PTI candidate, Shahzad Farooq, is not well-known,” Ahmad, a voter from Mughalpura says, adding that Maryam also enjoys support of a number of traders’ organisations.

Yamin, another voter, pledged to vote for Maryam, saying she went to jail bravely along with her father. “Despite facing massive hardships, she [Maryam] didn’t surrender,” she says.

On the other hand, the PTI voters seem determine to vote for the party candidate Shahzad Farooq. They have plans to reach polling stations early in the morning to cast maximum votes.

“You can see, there is no [visible] campaign for the PTI, as the party supporters are silently going door to door to seek votes. We can win if we are provided a trouble-free atmosphere for casting votes,” says Ishtiaq of Shalamar area. He appreciates Imran Khan for fighting against the country’s “corrupt” system.

In NA-127 both Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Attaullah Tarar are running huge campaigns to attract voters, while the electioneering of PTI’s Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and the JI’s Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas is also visible. Due to the opponents strong campaigns, the PML-N seems to be in a trouble here.

“This time, we are thinking to vote for Bilawal, as he is young, energetic, intelligent and has the spirit to do something. Though we had decided to vote for the PML-N, but we reconsidered the decision after the party fielded Mr Tarar, who doesn’t belong to Lahore,” says Sultan from Township. He also considers the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s support as an advantage for Bilawal.

Though some voters like Mr Tarar for being “polite and generous”, a number of others, especially the youngsters, are PTI fans. “Though Bilawal is asking the PTI voters to vote for him, we will never do this. Despite all odds, we will be at polling stations on February 8 to vote for Imran Khan’s candidate [Zaheer Abbas Khokhar],” says Afzal, a rickshaw driver.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024