The consolidated findings of the survey conducted during the past three months, the PML-N is the front-runner for the upcoming general elections with an average national score of 37 per cent.

The PPP and the PTI share second slot in the survey with a national level score of 16 per cent.

In its latest report for February 2013, Gallup has divided the electorate in 11 territories and shown the PML-N as a leading party in five of them while the PTI is front-runner in one electoral territory.

The PPP has been shown as a leading party for elections 2013 in two territories; the MQM in one; the Awami National Party (ANP) in one; and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)/Muttahida Majlis-e-Ammal (MMA) in one territory.

Analysts noted that despite stirring a political storm in the country, the rise of the PTI has not been able to dislodge the PML-N from its front-runner position in the numerically important Punjab province.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan acknowledges sharp slide in his party’s popularity but attributes it to the party’s preoccupation with a gigantic task of intra-party elections. It took about 10 months during which the PTI almost suspended its activities.

Imran is confident that the PTI will rebound soon for which a series of rallies has been planned beginning with Peshawar on March 10 on conclusion of elections for the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP). On March 23, a massive rally is planned in Lahore which will also be attended by about 80,000 elected members at union council level across the country.

The February 2013 political forecast is based on a nationwide poll of approximately 9,660 voters in 300 villages and urban localities.

The voting intention score of the PML-N stands at 63 per cent in North and Central Punjab, 69 per cent in Western Punjab and 49 per cent in Southern Punjab, shows the survey.

The PTI, according to the survey, is making deep inroads in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where it has surpassed every other player by a 30 per cent score.

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