Chowrangi

In most constituencies of Pakistan the campaign and canvassing for the national and provincial assemblies is coming into full bloom, and things are getting pretty much clear now, as only 12 days remain in the general elections, which are due on Feb the 18th.

Candidates of PML-Quisling are mainly low profile when the name of their leader Chaudhries of Gujrat, or their cycle comes, but they are very much in high profile when its comes to their Biradari. From Tummuns of Chakwal to Sheikhs of Faisalabad to Balochs of Sialkot, Punjab is all about Biradari system. Same is the case with Sindh. NWFP is more focussed on war against terrorism nowadays, while Balochistan is numb altogether.

But as always main contest between all the mainstream parties is going to happen in Punjab. Rural Punjab is seething with the Benazir Bhutto’s support, which mainly evinced from her brutal assassination last year, while the urban Punjab including all the major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and host of others are rallying behind Nawaz Sharif’s Muslim League. In this rallying, Nawaz Sharif’s contribution is less, rather the antagonism towards the PML-Q’s dismal performance of yesteryears is more to compel people against Cycle.

Whatever it is, anti-Musharraf passion is running high in both rural and urban areas, and that is what is more damaging for PML-Q, and most of its candidates are now not only alienating themselves from their party but also from the Musharraf. Lotas are like that, you know.

Other posts by Commoner

• Rare Chink in FATA - August 28th, 2008
• Presidential Campaigns Pick Momentum - August 28th, 2008
• Just Brought About Change - August 27th, 2008
• Speck of Hope - August 27th, 2008
• Daggers Drawn - August 27th, 2008
• More Load Shedding - August 27th, 2008
• Whose Writ is This - August 26th, 2008
• So They Parted - August 26th, 2008
• New Alignments - August 24th, 2008
• Vindicated Operartion in Swat - August 24th, 2008