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LAHORE: Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, observed complete “electoral silence” on Tuesday morning as no activity from any political force was planned and party loyalists, workers and candidates enjoyed a long sleep after weeks of restless nights.
Following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order, no party advertisements or slogans to woo voters were telecast on television channels.
Meanwhile, Election Commission officials, under the army’s protection, distributed election material to the polling stations throughout Lahore.
The city has been the hub of political activities for the past six weeks and the heads of all major political parties — Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Sirajul Haq of Muhiteda Majlize Amal (MMA), Hafiz Saeed of Milli Muslim League (MML) and Khadim Rizvi of Tehreek Labaik Pakistan (TLP) — held large public meetings and held rallies attended by their loyalists.
“Today is a complete rest day after several weeks. We have finished our work, distributed ‘vote number slips,’ displayed banners around the polling station and assign duties to our workers. No activity today as all election offices have been closed on yesterday night,” a PTI office bearer, Ahmad Waseem, who woke up after several calls, told Arab News.
The candidates also held meetings with their polling agents and gave them tips on how to handle the situation at polling stations on polling day.
“We finished our work yesterday (Monday). We have chosen the polling agents and given them necessary instructions. A meeting of the agents was held Monday night and now they are at their homes for rest to get charged for Wednesday (Election Day),” Rafey Alam, son of a national assembly candidate contesting from NA 125, told Arab News.
The chiefs of PTI and PML-N, Imran Khan and Shahbaz Sharif, campaigned till the last moment in Punjab while Bilawal Bhutto spent the last day in Sindh.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan ended his campaign in Lahore before moving around all day in the city and addressing public gatherings at Jallo Morr, Wapda Town, Data Darbar and Walton Road.
He said that his party would win the elections and the nation would get rid of the Sharifs on July 25.
The party had earlier decided to hold the last public meeting in Islamabad but changed its plan due to the importance of Punjab in Pakistani politics.
PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif chose to hold his last rally in Dera Ghazi Khan, from where he is contesting the election for National Assembly seat NA-192.
Political analysts are of the view that the road to govern the country, while sitting in Islamabad, passes through Punjab.
The two parties employed maximum energy in Punjab. Shahbaz Sharif addressed public gatherings in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Kot Momin, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and other areas of the province.
Imran Khan also focused on Punjab and held meetings in several cities of the Punjab.