'The Sharifs' to meet their supporters at 'Sialkot fort' which withstood even the 2018 test
Pakistan
PML-N bagged all the five national and eight out of 11 provincial seats in controversial 2018 polls
SIALKOT (Web Desk/Dunya News) – With the February 8 general elections just days away, the PML-N leadership is set to reach Sialkot Sunday (today) to galvanise their supporters and enhance the party’s chances of securing at least simple majority in National Assembly.
In 2018, Sialkot had again proved its status as the PML-N stronghold, the party bagged all the five National Assembly seats, despite the elections being the most controversial in Pakistan’s history.
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے قائد جناب محمد نواز شریف (کل)، اتوار مورخہ 28 جنوری کو شہر اقبال، سیالکوٹ جائیں گے اور پارٹی کے مرکزی راہنما خواجہ آصف صاحب کی میزبانی میں ہونے والے بڑے عوامی اجتماع سے خطاب کریں گے۔ سابق وزیراعظم اور صدر جماعت جناب شہباز شریف کے علاوہ پارٹی کی سینیٹر نائب… pic.twitter.com/bBJsZMqZUY
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) January 27, 2024
As far as the Punjab Assembly was concerned, the Nawaz Sharif’s party won eight out of the 11 allocated to district where the PML-N is mainly represented by Khawaja Asif – an old associate of the party supremo who is the only son of veteran politician and Pakistan Movement worker Khawaja Safdar.
Thus, only Gujranwala can claim to be “the strongest of the PML-N forts” as the district in 2018 enjoyed the distinction of presenting all the national and provincial seats – six and 14 respectively – to Nawaz.
No doubt, his supporters always proudly chant “Mian Tera Chahney Wala, Gujranwala Gujranwala”, which can best be explained in English as “Gujranwala is the place which loves Mian [Nawaz Sharif] the most”.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif: The lucky master of realpolitik is still leading the race
That’s why not just Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, who has accompanying his father to all public meetings during the current election campaign, but also Shehbaz Sharif will address the crowd at Jinnah Stadium.
THE CLASSMATES
Khawaja Asif was born and raised at his ancestral home in Kashmiri Mohalla – a locality in Sialkot’s old city. It is a congested area where no car or SUV can enter. It is no surprise that he still feels attached to the neighbourhood despite shifting to his new residence in Sialkot Cantt, as he visits the place regularly and mingles with the locals without any security.
In Pakistan, Sunday is the day when politicians visit their constituencies. And the locals say it is a routine matter seeing Khawaja Asif watching and playing cricket with the little kids in the streets. Later, he never misses enjoying food at the local eateries – solidifying his bond with the people, the reason behind his decades-long successful political career during which he hasn’t lost a single election.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif: The lucky master of realpolitik is still leading the race
Meanwhile, there is another angle too: the bond between Nawaz and Khawaja Asif – the two Kashmiris who hail from migrant families. However, Khawaja Asif’s forefathers arrived in Sialkot way before the Partition.
The association dates back to the late 1960s where they were class fellows at the historic Government College Lahore.
THE CROWD-PULLER
Meanwhile, Maryam continues proving her credentials as the ultimate “public choice” for the PML-N voters and supporters after Nawaz – their beloved leader who is eyeing the record fourth term in office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
On Saturday, Maryam had told a charged crowd in Abbottabad that their use of ballot would decide the future of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said the three-time prime minister had already planned how to reduce the electricity and food prices.
Maryam said manifesto wasn’t just a piece of paper and represented a firm commitment with the people. But the party, which ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for 10 years, didn’t deliver, she added.
Their manifesto was to give petrol bombs to the youth and stealing the watches, she remarked and compared the PTI with the PML-N, saying that Nawaz had provided laptops to the youngsters and uprooted terrorism from Pakistan.
Everyone knows what is written in their manifesto, Maryam remarked and reminded the charged crowd about the attacks carried out on military installations on May 9.
THE MANIFESTO
Saturday also saw the PML-N launching its election manifesto which revolves around growth-oriented economic policies and the supremacy of parliament.
It envisages 6 per cent economic growth, reducing inflation, employment generation, women empowerment and improved relations with the neighbouring countries – with a message that the party represents May 28, not May 9.
