NA 129 goes to
Shahbaz Sharif
LAHORE:
Around 75% of the applicants from two districts of Punjab – Mandi Bahauddin and Sialkot –who appeared before Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Central Parliamentary Board on Thursday for tickets were found to be dual nationals, The Express Tribune has learnt.
PML-N’s President Nawaz Sharif conducted interviews of applicants of final districts of Central Punjab, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Nanakana Sahab, Kasur and Lahore district.
According to the participants, Sharif is keen to bag around 56 National Assembly (NA) seats out of a total 68 seats of Central Punjab in order to attain party’s target of 110 NA seats out of a total 148 NA seats from the entire province.
It was noted that around 200 candidates from Sialkot and Mandi Bahauddin, who applied for party tickets, either for the National or provincial assembly seats, were dual nationals.
From the approximately 70 candidates from Mandi Bahauddin, 50 were found to be dual nationals. The applicants held nationalities of France, Germany, Italy, Japan and other European countries.
When Nawaz asked them why they want to wrap up their businesses abroad and revoke their foreign nationalities, they said they want to serve Pakistan. The interviewees said Nawaz tried to convince them otherwise but they politely refused his offer and pressed for a party ticket.
Nawaz did not make any promises, but told them to stay with the party even if they failed to get a ticket.
Several applicants did not appear for their interviews, and Nawaz was told that they have joined PTI.
Nawaz also finalised tickets for other candidates from various areas in Punjab.
From Lahore, NA 129 goes to Shahbaz Sharif, NA 125 to Khawaja Saad Rafique, NA 120 to Nawaz Sharif and NA 119 to Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2013.
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@Sana: That's not a fair comment and a gross generalization. Overseas Pakistanis in general are very hard-working and send back billions of dollars in remittances each year.
The other queue these dual nationals make are to collect dole in western countries.
Nice that Dual nationals are willing to leave their citizenship of other country to serve Pakistan. They are true sons of the soil. PML-N should award tickets to aspiring candidates. They may prove good addition to politics of Pakistan.
So many "pardesi" potential MNA aspirants from central Punjab who at some point in time in the past travelled to greener pastures beyond Pakistan and became citizens of other countries now want to return to the land of pure to become a member of parliament.
Proves what son of the soil really means as defined by a late dictator of the country.
Fear of loosing,,,,110 seats lols
I don't think PML - N will get any where close to 110 Seats..
@Proud Pakistani: So you read entire story to pick something and write a comment.
All PTI need in Mandi Bahaudin, is to decide about their candidates quickly and then a visit from Imran Khan before elections. NA 108 is up for grab with PML N struggling to name their candidate due to fear of candidates going for PTI and strong influence of PPP in rural parts of area.
hahahaha
Thats why we say vote for PTI & #NAYAPakistan Laptop shehbaz da vote Imran da :D