Electioneering for NA-55 ends
Updated at: 0627 PST, Tuesday, February 23, 2010
RAWALPINDI: The month-long heated election campaign for NA-55 came to an end on Monday, with rival candidates showing their strength by holding rallies at different places,by Ahmad Kamal Xinhua News.

Pakistan Muslim League –N (PML-N) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) concluded their election rallies on time but however, long after the end of campaign time, chief Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rashid and chief Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan continued holding rallies.

Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed traded allegations. Sharif was critic of those who betrayed him while Sheikh Rashid accused the Punjab government of supporting ‘land mafia’.

Security personnel and supporters of various political parties were on their toes till midnight in the city as eight major public gatherings were held to woo over 300,000 people before they cast their votes on Wednesday.

Sheikh Rashid chose the historic Liaquat Bagh for holding his final show while Sharif addressed a rally at Committee Chowk in support of PML-N candidate Shakil Awan.

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Jamaat-i-Islami, Awami National Party, Awami Party Pakistan and independent candidates also held separate rallies.

As many as 22 candidates are in the run for NA-55. However, the closest contest is between Shakeel Awan and Sheikh Rashid.

Sheikh Rashid said he would get the work restarted on multi-billion rupee projects he had initiated in the city. He accused the Punjab government of deliberately shelving these projects.

In an apparent effort to win support of PPP voters, Rashid announced that Benazir Bhutto Hospital would be made a state-of-the-art hospital and said he would himself approach President Asif Ali Zardari for funds.

Nawaz Sharif said his party would try all dictators in the people’s court if elected to form a government at the centre. Without naming former president Musharraf, he said ‘Ali Baba’ had fled the country but his 40 thieves were there.

Meanwhile, the contingents of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Rangers will patrol in the NA-55 constituency during by-polls on February 24 to ensure peace as well as fool proof security, said Minister for Interior A. Rehman Malik.

“ Rangers and Frontier Constabulary will conduct patrolling during election timings in NA-55 on February 24,” the minister said talking to journalists here at the inauguration ceremony of provincial headquarter of NADRA at sector G-10/4.

After security concerns expressed by Sheikh Rashid, the minister said he himself contacted Chief Secretary Punjab and provided him security after consultation with him.

Story by
AHMAD KAMAL
XINHUA NEWS