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KARACHI: The streets of Karachi and other cities of southern Sindh province wear a deserted look after an electric election campaign ended midnight on Monday. However, political parties say they still have a lot to do before the polling starts on Wednesday morning.
“The campaign has officially ended but there is no rest for us as we still have to do a lot before polling starts tomorrow,” Aminul Haque, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) spokesperson and candidate for NA251 Orangi constituency, told Arab News.
“By Monday night I had done 60 different jalsas (election gatherings) in the most difficult times under serious terrorist threats, especially in Bannu and Karak, and in the hottest weather. I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of people who came to these jalsas,” Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) tweeted, officially calling it a day.
On the last day of the campaigning, the PTI chairman addressed four rallies in Lahore.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, Shehbaz Sharif, who concluded his party’s election campaign by holding a public rally in Dera Ghazi Khan, tweeted: “Back in Lahore after a grueling campaign, capped by a huge, charged jalsa in DG Khan, morale among our supporters is very high. Leading the campaign in the absence of Mian sahib and with all the hurdles was a big challenge, but our part rose to the occasion.”
“Lucky to have such a good, motivated team. We fought the good fight and, what’s more important, we are on the right side of history! Let us VOTE on the 25th for the bright future of Pakistan and Pakistanis!” Sharif said in another tweet.
The Pakistan People’s Party Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who addressed public gatherings in Shahdatkot, Garhi Khairi, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Garhi Yasin before paying a visit to the graves of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, tweeted: “What an incredible journey this has been, across every corner of this great country. Thank you for all the love you have shown. This campaign has highlighted more than ever the need for us to come 2gether as a nation 2 build a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan #July25.”
On its last day, the Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA) leaders Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Sirajul Haq addressed election rallies in Lower Dir, whereas Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) held its last in its stronghold, Liaquatabad locality of the city.
Haque said the list of election-related things to do is long.
“Today, the MQM’s candidates and working team will ensure if the voters’ cards have been distributed and if the permission for setting up polling camps has been obtained,” Haque said, adding that preparing material, arranging transport and placing an order of Biryani for polling-day lunch are also among the list.
The door-to-door contact campaign also continues and the parties say they are ensuring that no one is left unattended. “Today, we will ensure that everyone has been asked to vote for us,” Haque said.
“The workers we needed till last night are required at the election cells of constituencies for planning of polling-day strategy,” Waqas Shaukat, a Pakistan People’s Party leader, told Arab News.
Zahid Askari, the MMA spokesman in Karachi, says duties for his party workers have already been assigned. “Our workers will check in today for briefing regarding their election duties, including working as polling agent and persuading workers and commuting those needing transport to the polling station,” Askari told Arab News.
Askari said locally the workers continue to contact the electorate about coming on the polling day to vote.
Speaking to Arab News, Chief Secretary Sindh, retired Major Azam Suleman Khan said the election material was taken to polling stations in the presence of army personnel and police. “The process is still under way and it will be completed shortly,” he said.
Khan says a comprehensive security plan has been chalked out to hold peaceful elections across the Sindh province. “Army, paramilitary rangers and police will jointly provide security at 17,747 polling stations, of which 5673 have been declared sensitive,” Khan said, adding that at each polling station four army personnel, two inside and two outside the station, will be deployed to ensure security along rangers and police whereas a quick response force will also be ready.
“We have held a series of meetings with the parties’ leaders and with their cooperation and tightened security we will hold a peaceful election,” he vowed.
“We have also installed 21,000 CCTV cameras in sensitive polling stations across the Sindh, which will be centrally monitored,” Khan concluded.