<p class="title">A two-month-long campaign by candidates and political parties for Pakistan's general election on Wednesday will come to an end at midnight tonight amid low voter enthusiasm and a tense security situation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said as per rules the campaign must end at midnight so that voters can relax and prepare for the July 25 polls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">No candidate or party leader will address gatherings or corner meetings or take out processions after the deadline.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to an ECP official, electronic and print media would also avoid telecasting or publishing political advertisements.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Anyone who contravenes ECP guidelines will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with a Rs 100,000 fine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The election campaign has generally been seen as low-key and has failed to enthuse voters as in previous polls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There was also a sense of uncertainty due to court cases against leading politicians including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was convicted and sent to jail for corruption.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tactics by anti-corruption watchdog – National Accountability Bureau – have also hampered the campaign. Similarly, actions by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against former president Asif Ali Zardari have also been questioned due to their timing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A sudden spike in suicide attacks by militants have also affected the campaign. About 180 people, including three candidates, were killed in these attacks in the past two weeks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the contestants and leaders are making last ditch efforts to woo voters before the end of the deadline. PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif will address rallies in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi in Punjab while his son Hamza will organise a rally in Lahore.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan will address gatherings in Lahore, capital of Punjab and the chief battleground for ascendency to power in Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Separately, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will speak at gatherings in Jacobabad and Shikarpur, the two areas in Sindh, which is a PPP stronghold.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The religious alliance of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Sirajul Haq will also make a show of power in capital Islamabad. </p>
<p class="title">A two-month-long campaign by candidates and political parties for Pakistan's general election on Wednesday will come to an end at midnight tonight amid low voter enthusiasm and a tense security situation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said as per rules the campaign must end at midnight so that voters can relax and prepare for the July 25 polls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">No candidate or party leader will address gatherings or corner meetings or take out processions after the deadline.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to an ECP official, electronic and print media would also avoid telecasting or publishing political advertisements.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Anyone who contravenes ECP guidelines will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with a Rs 100,000 fine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The election campaign has generally been seen as low-key and has failed to enthuse voters as in previous polls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There was also a sense of uncertainty due to court cases against leading politicians including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was convicted and sent to jail for corruption.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The tactics by anti-corruption watchdog – National Accountability Bureau – have also hampered the campaign. Similarly, actions by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against former president Asif Ali Zardari have also been questioned due to their timing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A sudden spike in suicide attacks by militants have also affected the campaign. About 180 people, including three candidates, were killed in these attacks in the past two weeks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But the contestants and leaders are making last ditch efforts to woo voters before the end of the deadline. PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif will address rallies in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rawalpindi in Punjab while his son Hamza will organise a rally in Lahore.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan will address gatherings in Lahore, capital of Punjab and the chief battleground for ascendency to power in Pakistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Separately, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will speak at gatherings in Jacobabad and Shikarpur, the two areas in Sindh, which is a PPP stronghold.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The religious alliance of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Sirajul Haq will also make a show of power in capital Islamabad. </p>