Kulsoom Nawaz to sweep NA-120 by-election: Javed Hashmi

Veteran politician announces support for the former first lady

MULTAN: Announcing support for Kulsoom Nawaz for the upcoming NA-120 by-poll in Lahore, veteran politican Javed Hashmi has claimed the former first lady would sweep the election.

Speaking to media in Multan, Hashmi said Kulsoom is his sister, and wished her speedy recovery. She was diagnosed with lymphoma last month, and is under treatment in London.

The NA-120 seat from Lahore that fell vacant after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister for concealing assets in his nomination papers. The by-poll is scheduled for September 17, and the Pakistan Muslim-League-Nawaz campaign is being led by her daughter, Maryam Nawaz. The main contest is between Kulsoom and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Yasmin Rashid.



He claimed Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will never quit the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) but will continue to raise his reservations.

When asked about the differences between Nisar and Khawaja Asif, Hashmi said that they were once close friends. "If I were in the PML-N, I would force them to sit down on the same table and work out any grievances that they have with each other," he added.

About the ongoing World XI cricket event in Lahore, he said: "The Independence Cup cricket tournament will open the gates for international cricket in Pakistan once more," he added.