Politics gathers steam ahead of PA polls
The Rawalpindi district is currently witnessing an unusual political mobilisation with a record number of 392 candidates entering the election arena for 15 provincial assembly seats.
However, the curtain is set to fall on the submission of nomination papers on Thursday (today).
Along with the political drama, serious differences between the country's two main parties, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have come to the fore.
Ideological workers of both parties who have made sacrifices in the past have also entered the race against the expected candidates of their parties.
The most interesting situation is unfolding in the Punjab Assembly constituency PP-10 where two political bigwigs including former federal ministers for interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan and former minister for aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan have entered the election arena.
On the other hand, the sons of both leaders have also filed nomination papers. Candidates of PML-N, PPP, PTI, and JI are poised to give a tough time to opposing candidates.
On average, around 20 to 37 candidates have come to the fray in each provincial constituency. Sources in various constituencies said, the enthusiasm of the workers of all political parties is palpable.
They said campaign offices have also started popping up while the scrutiny of the nomination papers will start on Friday and will continue till Sunday.
All former members of the provincial assembly belonging to PTI and PMLN have submitted their nomination papers. Both parties have also given the green signal for tickets to the former members of the assembly.
Five to ten ideological activists of PTI have also submitted nomination papers.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2023.