educated ‘clean-living’ segments of society does not have that kind of access to the common people as the PML-N does. This natural advantage of the PML-N has always played a highly decisive role in the earlier political battles between the two parties. Who knows who and how much persuasive one can be to his neighbour does make a great difference in such a high-level electoral contest as the open being witnessed in NA-122 and PP147. Mian Aslam Iqbal in PP-148, whose major strength is his personal acquaintance with the people of his constituencies. On the other hand, PTI is yet in its infancy and despite being acknowledged and emerged as the second biggest political force in the country, has not been able to attain this status of a party of every sundry.
The overall colour of the election day remained festive, healthy and highly charged in the constituency concerned. The thin traffic on the city roads, the late arrival of the voters at the polling booths, mainly because it was a Sunday, the overall environment in and around the polling stations remained apprehensive but peaceful, mainly due to the presence of Pakistan Army, Rangers and heavy contingents of police, who performed their duties hawk-eyed. The well maintained law and order and the distance between the polling stations and polling agent’s camps was a ‘No-go Area’ for everyone except the voters.
Despite the earlier anticipations and apprehensions of many party workers from both sides of the political divide, the strict control of the law enforcing agencies and a completely transparent electoral process in the supervision of the army played a very positive role in keeping the tempers of the people down and the level of trust unprecedently high.
The overall election day activities, the sloganeering in favour of their candidates and against the rivals was an integral part of this electoral commotion too. Whenever a leader of PTI would visit a polling station with his entourage, the war of words and slogans contest charged up the atmosphere. Ichhara, Samanabad and Rehmanpura remained the hub of intense political activity on the election day with the regular visits of PTI and PML-N leaders all day long till 5pm.