Political and religious parties have started to flex their muscles for the local government elections in Punjab, expected to be held in March.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan People’s Party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and other small and large organizations have begun holding meetings for poll preparations, selection of candidates and formation of alliances.
Parties have geared up membership campaigns and other poll-related activities all over the province.
A three-member committee including Punjab Local Government Minister Mian Mahmood-ur-Rasheed, Saifullah Niazi and Aamir Kayani is finalising candidates for the top slots of mayors and district mayors. The committee has been formed on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Punjab Assembly Opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz is looking after the affairs of the PML-N while PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is personally monitoring the developments in the province from Bilawal House Lahore.
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan has already announced it would field candidates across the province. The party, a week ago, launched its membership campaign in different cities.
Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah visited the TLP head office in Lahore a couple of days ago and met party head Saad Rizvi. Leaders of the PTI, the PML-N have also held separate meetings with Saad.
A meeting of TLP Lahore chapter was held on Thursday to finalise the strategy for the elections, said its spokesperson Saddam Hussain.
“The TLP has so far decided not to make alliance with any party in LG polls,” he told the Minute Mirror.
The provincial parliamentary board of the Jamaat-e-Islami has finalised JI candidates for polls. JI Ameer Sirajul Haq would give final approval to the nominations, said party spokesperson Qaisar Sharif, ruling out the possibility of alliance with any party.
The JI would contest elections under its own flag and electoral symbol, he told the Minute Mirror.
The doors of Pakistan Awami Tehreek were opened for alliance with any party except the PML-N, said PAT spokesperson Noorullah Siddiqui.
Meanwhile, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari contacted PAT Chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri days ago for discussing possibilities of an alliance.
Moreover, senior politician Manzoor Wattoo met PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur on Wednesday to discuss the political situation.
