Islamabad Two days before the November 30 local body elections in Islamabad’s city and rural areas, the canvassing by candidates reached at fever pitch on Saturday. From going from door-to-door to holding corner meetings or taking out rallies and even distributing food and snacks, the contestants and their supporters used all possible ways to solicit votes from the people in their respective constituencies. Some arranged Quran Khwani sessions in mosques to seek the blessings of the Almighty Allah for their success. The rivals saw the sudden start of development work by the civic agency, especially the blacktopping of roads and streets in the city, a move by the ruling PML-N to help its candidates woo voters. Though the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct bars them from participating in the election campaigns of candidates, many public office holders were seen drumming up support for their favourites though not that openly. Blatantly, chairman of the opposition PTI Imran Khan had violated the code of conduct on Friday night when he went to the capital's outskirts to address a public meeting as part of the party’s election campaign. Among other violations of the code of conduct were the use of loudspeakers, display of over-sized banners and candidate portraits, and the alleged purchase of votes. There is a festivity in the air with banners, flags and election symbols displayed everywhere, markets and streets illuminated, loudspeakers blaring out election songs, messages and slogans, and motorcyclists and motorists taking out noisy rallies. Also, candidates have put up offices in markets and along the roads, where people come to chat about everything electoral, especially the likely poll results. Hustle and bustle is seen there after sunset with tea, snacks and even food served to visitors. Though temperature of the canvassing reached an all-time high on Saturday, no clash took place among supporters of candidates. In Islamabad, the last local body elections had taken place in 1992. However, they’re limited to rural localities. In this light, the city is seeing the local body elections in both rural and urban areas for the first time. Though it has no provincial assembly or representation in any provincial assembly, Islamabad directly elects two members of the National Assembly. Currently, PTI’s Umar Asad represents urban Islamabad and PML-N’s Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, who was made the minister of state for the Capital Administration and Development Division lately, rural Islamabad.
