defeat, they have started to utilise state funds on public which was ignored completely for last many years” said Zulfiqar Ahmed, a candidate of PTI contesting from Union Council 27. In his area, and many other adjoining Union Councils, development work such as laying of sewage, water supply lines, sanitation have geared up, according to the opponents.
In different areas of Lahore, candidates belonging to Opposition parties have also installed banners rebuking government backed candidates for repairing an already repaired road just to garner public support.
Besides, on Sunday, which was the last official holiday before the LG polls scheduled on October 31, the candidates belonging to different parties took out rally for show of power and areas, including Shadbagh, Misri Shah, Tezab Ahata, Garhi Shahu, Icchara, Samanabad have really become centre of political activities and very strong contests are expected in these areas.
In Union Council 45 falling under NA-119 and PP-141, two groups of PML-N have come face to face and according to sources, both enjoyed secret backing of two local MPAs of the ruling party. In the said seat, PML-N has awarded ticket to Kashif Hussein Gohar, who is a businessman belonging to Urdu Bazaar and has been a staunch party loyalist. However, what has raised several eyebrows in party cadres is the awarding of ticket of his Vice-Chairman to Munib Tufail, a former labour councillor of PML-Q in 2001 and 2005 as well as a major campaigner of Pervez Musharraf during his referendum of 2002. Munib has been a staunch PML-Q loyalist till the last LG polls and by 2010, he joined PML-N. Annoyed with the decision, Ismael Butt, alias Manna Butt, a PML-N loyalist and winner in 2001 and 2005 polls have fielded himself as independent candidate for the slot of Chairman and Iftikhar Butt, his colleague in the same UC in 2001 and 2005 is contesting as his Vice-Chairman.
In this Union Council, local people believe that it is now a contest between Arains and Kashmiri clans as both sides are putting full weight to defeat other. One group, according to sources is backed by Provincial Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman while the other is backed by Ghazali Salim Butt, both sitting MPAs of PML-N. However, they deny the reports.
Moreover, fierce election battles are also expected in different parts of Lahore. One such example is Union Council 25 where PML-N has fielded Shahnawaz and PTI has come up with Bilal Butt. From the same seat which covers areas, including villages like Bhamma, Jhuggian, Haji Park, Taj Ghazi Park etc is likely to see a tough contest and local people don’t rule out any untoward incident on the polling day. Malik Abdul Rauf, a former Councillor of 1991 Local Government polls is also contesting from the same seat as Independent candidates.
In the 2015 Local Government polls, election symbols had also caught attention of the people as other than party symbols like Tiger, Bat, Arrow, independent candidates have been awarded symbols such as diamond, batsman, bucket. Candidates are also allotted symbols such as bear, parrot etc.
Since 1979, it is for the eighth time that LG polls are being held in Punjab. Under dictatorial rules of Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf, fives time LG polls had taken place in the years 1979, 1983, 1987, 2001 and 2005.
Under a civilian government, it is third time that LG polls are being held as previously polls were held in 1991, 1998, both while Muslim League was in power.