A young woman chants slogans in support of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan at a rally for his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf on May 9, 2013 in Islamabad. PHOTO: Myra Iqbal?Express
Election frontrunners made one last attempt to win over potential voters as midnight marked the end of political campaigning ahead of Saturday’s historic polls.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan gave an impassioned speech to his supporters via video link from his hospital bed in Lahore, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto, in a rare appearance, launched a last-minute appeal for votes for his party, also via video link.
Unlike Imran Khan and Bilawal, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Munawar Hassan personally addressed rallies in Lahore and Islamabad, respectively.
Imran attracts largest crowd
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan predicted a “Naya Pakistan” on May 11, as he addressed a crowd of 25,000 supporters in D-chowk of Islamabad by video link from the hospital.
The PTI chief has been ordered by doctors to remain immobile after suffering fractured vertebrae and a broken rib on Tuesday after falling from a forklift at a rally in Lahore.
“This (elections) is a final sprint for a nation,” said Imran from his bed in the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital on Thursday.
“I’m happy today as our nation stands on the right track – from here we can start our journey now to make a Naya Pakistan.”
In his nine-minute speech, the PTI chief asked people of Sindh how many times they would sell themselves on the name of the Bhuttos.
He urged the people of Fata, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to come out of their homes with their women to cast their votes and bring peace through the ballot. Finally, Imran urged the people of Punjab to give his party a chance this time for better governance by rejecting those who served five times and failed to deliver.
Sharif concludes campaign
Nawaz Sharif concluded the PML-N’s election campaign in Lahore’s constituency NA-122, where the party faces Imran Khan in the upcoming polls on Saturday.
Although Nawaz was scheduled to address three gatherings in the city, he preferred to deliver his main address in Samanabad.
In his final speech, he chose to mostly lash out at the PTI and PPP for their alleged ‘covert partnership’ and ‘negative campaign’ against his party.
He said that all criticism, either in print and electronic media or in speeches, was against the PML-N.
‘Ideological conspiracy’
Bilawal Bhutto addressed thousands of PPP supporters who had gathered at Bhara Kahu in Islamabad’s NA-49, where PPP’s Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar is contesting the elections.
He said Pakistan was being subjected to an “ideological conspiracy” and citizens must vote for the PPP to foil this conspiracy.
“The country is being made a target of a huge conspiracy which is even bigger than the threat from terrorists,” he said. “It is a conspiracy to make us slaves to a particular ideology.”
Bilawal hinted that some political parties were colluding with “certain institutions” to bring about a legislature that is not ideologically diverse.
He also criticised political parties that have alleged ties with militant groups.
People have to unite against “zalim-e-aala,” said Bilawal while addressing the people of south Punjab.
“The target of the lion is the poor people of Pakistan but we have empowered and armed our people with arrows to hunt all these lions,” claimed Bilawal.
JI and JUI-F
The JI mobilised a crowd of 7,000 people at the Sitara Market in Islamabad’s NA-48 constituency. JI Ameer Munawar Hasan said his party wanted to bring about a revolution in the mindsets of people. He said the problems facing society would go away if the values preached by the Holy Quran and Sunnah are upheld.
“Vote for the JI to pave the way for a real revolution,” Hassan said
Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman addressed activists in Bannu on Thursday, where he prayed for the swift recovery of Imran Khan but also claimed he was ‘supported by a Jewish lobby’.
During his final address, the JUI-F leader said that his party would implement the ‘essence’ of Islam in Pakistan which would solve all of Pakistan’s problems.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (31)
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Vote for PTI. Its time for Nationalism .
@Bilal:
True that.
For God's sake ET, kindly correct your figures...
I hope Musarrat Shaheen wins. By best wishes for her.
Pleaseeeee vote for PTI....
@zulal: not in these elections dude
@Bunty: Very ture
25,000 people ... are you kidding me? I was there atleast 350,000 plus crowd was there!
25,000? haha correspondant, please.
Zardari said overseas pakistanies now can vote too. You should check the news.@PakJam:
This election is the most interesting in the history of Pakistan. It is far more interesting than the last election in USA. Irrespective of the terrorist threats, I think that this election will see record number of voters casting their ballots. Even a month ago, I was betting my last penny that the elections shall not be held. Pakistanis have shown so much enthusiasm that they foiled the attempts of judiciary, ECP, terrorists and others to foil the elections. It would be great if any single party wins majority or is at least in a commanding position.
Vote for PTI. Vote for NAYA PAKISTAN.
Log live Pakistan!!!! Long live IMRAN KHAN!!!! Vote for PAKISTAN....Vote for IMRAN KHAN!!!! Pakistan paindabaad!!!!!
The last message of Nawaz Sharif's final campaign address "hum qarzay aap ke darwazon tak pohanchayen ge"
The last sentence of Balawal's final campaign address "Ya Allah, Ya Rasul, Benazir Beqasur"
The last msg of Khan's Final Campaign "Apne zor-e-Bazoo pe yaqeen rakhen ge. Allah ke Siwa kisi ke aagay nahin jhukein ge"
Cast your vote sensibly.
I am from India. I am not exactly sure Mr. Khan can make that big a difference in Pakistani polity. But, his intentions and resolution seems to be good and sincere. If he comes to power, hopefully he does not go the wrong way that other good politicians usually do... Best of luck to Mr.Khan from India in rebuilding a stable progressive Pakistan....
Vote PML(N) and contribute in making Pakistan a safe, stable and prosperous country.
Pakistan...this is once in a life opportunity to change things for the better...please choose Naya Pakistan...if not ourselves than for the better future of our kids.
Vote now or never complain, Jag Pakistan
Vote for a leader, not a contracter, leader built society, make policies, contracters built, roads, metro, let people die, uneducated, give them loans, instead of education, choice is clear, select the kings, and being ruled by them to suffer, or chose a leader and be lead.
ET is still calling IK a cricketer-turned politician even for Pakistani readers. ET please
The rural heartland of Pakistan should get out and vote to neutralize the arrogance and hatred of rural elites. There are always surprises from the heartland of Pakistan. Urban elites are so predictable and cocky even though they have only one vote like all of us. Let us prove that smaller provinces like Sindh does not care about the prodigies of TTP. Taliban supported parties are now celebrating but would not win a single NA seat from Sindh and very little from other two smaller provinces.
Care to elaborate on the ideological conspiracy Bilawal?
Sad!! This is the true Face of our future PM.....???? http://dawn.com/2013/05/09/nawaz-sharif-and-musharraf/
ET, please get the numbers right. There were 25,000 people alone watching the live stream on the INTERNET. There were close to 500,000 people present at D-Chowk.
ET I think it's about time you guys gave fair credit where it's due -- people packing a stretch of a 100 feet wide street for 2 kilometers definitely amounts to well over 60,000 people and closer to 100,000 which was the actual figure for yesterday's PTI rally
VOTE PTI
Kick out the filth. Vote PTi.
If you don't go out to vote, someone else will probably use your vote fraudulently.
Some party will fraudulently count all the votes for registered voters who don't show up to vote.
So, it doesn't matter who you vote for. Just get out there, and make sure that your voice is counted!!
Vote PTI for change. Don't fail for the false promises of others
"During his final address, the JUI-F leader said that his party would implement the ‘essence’ of Islam in Pakistan which would solve all of Pakistan’s problems."
He had a chance to shower that essence when his party ruled for 5 years in KP. He thinks he did such a good job that he should be given a chance to govern entire Pakistan this. He may be Delusional but most people of Pakistan are not.
Very clever ET... you decided to give numbers for the PTI & JI rallies but not one for PPP & PMLN. That's a nice way to politely report on the magnitude of the statements made today without being too critical of Nawaz or Bilawal's performances. What would really have set the tone for a standard in journalism is if you'd gone beyond reporting the facts that anyone tuned into the news would already know and get comments from those present on-ground to get a more well-rounded view of the series of events today. Sad, that, barely average now passes for a standard when it comes to you guys now.
Please Vote4Balla... I am in UK and can't vote and ECP ditched us oversees Pakistanis and we feel much dejected. But You can vote for Naya Pakistan. PLEASE PLEASE VOTE FOR IK Thanks - Junaid