success or defeat of Aleem Khan.
However, all is not well in the Lahore chapter of the PTI as most of its prominent leaders are opposed to Aleem Khan since long because of a longstanding internal tussle that dates back to its intra-party elections in 2012. For this reason, Ijaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, the leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly, and Yasmeen Rashid have not played any role in helping their party candidate. They appear on the scene only when Imran Khan happens to be present at some event. Despite his efforts, the PTI chairman has not been able to close ranks at this crucial point of time when a mere single victory can tremendously boost the morale of the party all over Pakistan after a massive setback that was caused by the report of the 3-member judicial commission that had dismissed all the rigging charges of the PTI.
Although Shahbaz Sharif has not been seen on the campaign scene due to the restriction imposed by the code of conduct of election, he has been directing the electioneering from behind the curtain. Hamza Shahbaz has been in the forefront, undertaking activities in the constituency on daily basis.
Every senior PML-N figure, pushed in the electoral arena, was brought in to garner support of different segments of voters. Whether it is Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marvi Memon Talal Chaudhry, Sheikh Waqas Akram or some other PML-N leader, all of them have some relevance in the electorate.
On the other hand, apart from the worthwhile support extended by Imran Khan and Reham Khan, Aleem Khan has run his campaign almost single-handed. As both Ayaz Sadiq and Aleem Khan admit, they don’t belong to NA-122. However, the PML-N candidate contested the last three general elections held in 2002, 2008 and 2013 from this constituency and consecutively won.
In the recent by-elections, the by-poll to NA-122 has experienced the most feverish campaign that exhibited that both the parties consider the fight extremely significant. They believe that the outcome will have a far-reaching political impact.
Those who have visited this purely urban area say that it is extravagantly splashed with posters and other publicity material. They feel that even the cost of this stuff is much more than the limit of Rs1.5 million, fixed by the law as the total election expenses, which is obviously unrealistic. However, their argument is that they have not personally shelled out the cost of this material but his supporters are footing the bill and they can’t stop them because they do of out of love for their favourite candidates.
PTI maintain leading position in NA elections, with narrow lead of one percentage point over PMLN
Nationalists say Sindh’s resources, land, and water are being sold under guise of development