Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) points as he speaks to foreign reporters at his residence in Lahore May 13, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
The trend of electing family members of top political leaders to the corridors of power continued with the May 11 elections.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party which emerged as single largest in the National Assembly as well as the Punjab Assembly, in terms of total number of seats, apparently leads the list of ‘family system dominance’ over the democratic setup.
The chief of the party, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has been elected member of national assembly from two seats, NA-68 Sargodha and NA-120 Lahore, along with other family members.
His younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is considered the favorite candidate among party ranks for the chief minister slot of the largest province of the country, got elected from NA-129 Lahore and from provincial assembly seats PP-142 Lahore, PP-159 Lahore and PP-247 Rajanpur.
Shahbaz Sharif’s son and nephew of Nawaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is elected member of National Assembly from NA-119 Lahore. Abid Sher Ali, another nephew of PML-N chief, got elected from NA-84 Faisalabad. Nawaz’s son-in-law, Captain (retd) Safdar has been elected member of the lower house of the parliament from NA-21 Mansehra.
Khawaja Saad Rafique, a senior PML-N leader got elected from NA-125 Lahore. His wife, Ghazala Saad Rafique’s name has already been included in the PML-N’s list for national assembly reserved seats for women.
Another pair of brothers from PML-N, Rana Afzal Hussain and Rana Tanveer Hussain, won seats from Sheikhupura.
From Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), President Zardari’s sisters, Faryal Talpur (NA-207) and Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho (NA-213) also got elected for the lower house of the parliament.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his nephew Zareen Elahi are also among the winning candidates.
Tariq Bashir Cheema from Bahawalpur and his brother Tahir Bashir Cheema from Bahawalnagar were declared winning candidates.
Another pair of siblings who contested the polls is Sumera Malik, who won the seat on PML-N’s ticket from Khushab, and her sister Ayla Malik, who is among the top three candidates in the list of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) for National Assembly’s reserved seats for women.
Many of these families’ members are representing the four provinces in the upper house of the parliament.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2013.
COMMENTS (16)
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It seems one of Sharif brothers will become president and other a Prime minister because this old party is not democratic and its leaders are dictators in their own parties who will never let any one else lead their parties when they are around neither will they let them become Prime ministers. Just look at PML (N) the whole family and extended family is on top positions in party and when in Govt they all get ministries.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is The Best Mutual Understanding political Party of Pakistan. The top leaders of party have mutually shared election tickets and more than 25% tickers were awarded to relatives. From Sharif Family to Saad Rafique, all top leadership grabbed tickets for his family members. Almost every core leader reserved more than 3 seats for his relatives. Some Major examples: No need to mention Sharif family ticket details as everyone know who is contesting election from Nawaz Sharif Family. Chairman of PML-N Senator Raja Zafar ul Haq successfully got ticket for his niece. The most prominent leader of PML-N Saad Rafique is contesting for National Assembly seat while his brother is contesting for Provincial Assembly seat. Saad also took reserved seat for his wife Ghazala. Another PML-N leader Pervaiz Malik is contesting to become MNA while he wants to visit National Assembly with his wife and that’s why her wife got reserved seat for National Assembly. Another big politician of Nawaz League Jaffar Iqbal Gujjar also tried to break Saad RafiqueFamily politics record. His 4 family members selected for tickets. His son Umer Jaffar, daughter Zeb, Niece Maiza Hameed Gujjar and son-in-law Faisal Iqbal are happy with PML-N after getting tickets. Marvi Memon is candidate from Sindh provincial Assembly seat PS-88 but she also among reserved seat members. These are some major examples and there are many politicians in most political parties who are under influence of some families.
@Abid P. Khan: None of Imran's sisters are on the PTI list for the reserved seats for women.
@Another sane voice: "........BTW, ET what about Javaid Hashmi and his daughter both elected, whats the stance of PTI supportes?" . BTW, ET what about the news of IK Niazi's cousins and sister who were reported, running for seats?
Dear PTIns stop nail biting, again you will be given a chance after 20 years, till then enjoy musical concerts and dance parties and if you spare some time, pray for IK’s complete recovery because he have huge task ahead you know, yelling at hundreds of news channels.!
Toatally agree with sane voice. People dont care about family politics while voting. Everyone should respect peoples choice. BTW, ET what about Javaid Hashmi and his daughter both elected, whats the stance of PTI supportes?
Abid Sher Ali won from NA-84 not NA-48.
So much for change.
Nothing will ever change in Pakistan, the only thing that did change about Pakistan was her geography in 1971.
The chief Justice took his son along to cast vote. Why didnt Arsalan stand in queue to cast his vote, if the chief justice behaves in this manner what could be expected of others
Nothing has and nothing will change about Pakistan
How about Ishaq Dar. Isn't he related to Nawaz Sharif.
PTI is the only democratic party who has done their own internal elections to elect cadres & all others who only talks of democracy does not believe in elections within their own party...? calling them a democratic party does not make sense ? it is hypocrisy of the highest order....
Correction please: Abid Sher Ali got elected from NA 84 not 48
So this was not expected? Wait till they come to your bakeries.
@TNT: Why only five years? Why not the next five and many other nexts??
What change we are talking about..........if we cannot delegate upper house members.......... even not willing to delegate the reserved seats to the deserved and eligible middle class.............. how come one expect the Rights of poor people of Pakistan would be taken care................this is hilarious.
So what..................every citizen has right to participate in politics and elections, the basic thing is there should be no exploitation and the persons elected should deliver. its a fact that Punjab is the most developed and most peaceful province of pakistan.......thanx to sharifs. Yes off course there is a lot lot room for improvements.........but its still far better than other provinces. If they are delivering and may deliver more...............then we shall not criticise them merely on there blood relations.
wait till u see the list of family members in the cabinet and big posts. Everyone knows pml n is a family limited party. now enjoy for the next 5 years.