PML-N's 'low-key electioneering mode' raises eyebrows

As the nation approaches its general elections in a month, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is raising eyebrows with its subdued campaign.

Despite PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's eligibility to run for polls now, the party seems surprisingly low-key, as it just held a rally on October 21 last year, the day when the former prime minister staged a comeback to Pakistan after four years in self-imposed exile in London.

Khawaja Asif, a senior PML-N leader, during an appearance on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, admitted that the former ruling party needed to catch up with political rivals — in terms of rallies, interviews, public appearances, etc.

In an interview today (Monday), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also said that the PML-N has not “gone to the public” since their last rally three months back.

“If the PML-N wishes, it can show the country that people are standing with them. The person [Nawaz] who wants to become the prime minister for the fourth time has not come out of his house.”

But defending his party, PML-N Secretary-General Ahsan Iqbal told Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada that when it comes to elections, the PML-N is ahead in the preparations compared to its rivals.

Party’s leadership is not away from the public sphere. — Ahsan Iqbal

“We have conducted detailed interviews of the candidates, and during this week, the final list of candidates will be issued; and before the [Election Commission of Pakistan’s] deadline of January 12 to withdraw a candidate’s nomination paper, we will issue the list, because on January 13, symbols will be allotted.”

Iqbal said the party’s leadership was not away from the public sphere. “Even as I am speaking to you now, I am sitting in a room right after attending an election rally. We are present all in our constituencies.”

He added that a big behind people not being able to see the “election mood” is that the final ticket lists have not been issued by political parties.

“As soon as these tickets are issued in the next three to four days, and every candidate knows where they will be contesting the elections from, [you will see the election mood],” the former planning minister said.

When pressed that PML-N’s bigwigs were not giving interviews despite the elections nearing, he said: “They are not absent. The Muslim League Noon is under pressure because the amount of requests that we received was more than any other political party.”

He also added: “We have sat in those interviews [of candidates] and [we will have to make] very tough decisions because they included our die-hard workers, new joinings, and those political parties who want to forge alliances with us.”

Iqbal noted that the process of allotting seats to candidates was a complicated process as the party has to precise decisions and not rush into things; however, he said that it was in the final phase.

The ex-federal minister said that the party’s manifesto committee's meeting is also on Wednesday and the document will be issued soon. “So we have done better homework than any other political party.”

Moving the conversation forward, he said that the PML-N was in the final phase of talks with the IPP, JUI-F, MQM-P, and GDA regarding seat adjustments.

“Whoever has the potential to win, we will allot the seats to them. Seat adjustments do not show weakness,” he also said.