Wah cantt - As the countdown for the April 25 polls in the cantonment board has started, political hustle and bustle has gripped every nook and corner of the twin cities of Taxila and Wah and aspirant candidates have set up their offices and launched massive election campaigns.
The first phase of election process in 42 cantonments of the country started with the filing of nomination forms. The political parties are cautious in electioneering perhaps because of control of army on cantonments.
The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf has a strong presence both in Taxila and Wah garrison cities as MPAs from both constitutes belong to PTI. The PML-N local chapter is looking towards Federal Minister for interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for finalisation of party strategy for upcoming elections. For the 10 wards of Wah Cantonment with 155,237 registered voters, over 100 candidates have filed their nomination papers.
Regardless of the massive campaigns by the candidates, the response from the people is not strong, as most of the election camps in various localities remain empty. The candidates are using all available tactics during their campaigns to seek votes from the residents of their respective constituencies.
Many of the candidates have hired professionals to design their posters and run their campaigns.
Local political heavyweights, especially PTI MNA Ghulam Sarwar Khan, PTI MPA Sadeeq Khan, PTI MPA Tamoor Masood, former PML-N MPA Umer Farooq, former JI MPA Prof Waqas Khan, and others are fully involved in the electioneering of their respective candidates and mobilizing their personal vote bank for their respective knights in election battlefield.
Different political parties including JI, PPP and Pakistan Awami Tehreek are also consulting different candidates for seat adjustment and nominating joint candidate.