Parties begin preparations for Punjab Assembly polls

PML-N leaders urge Hamza’s return to country

LAHORE:

Although the date of polls has not been announced after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, all the political parties have started preparing their strategies in this regard.

According to sources in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), several party leaders have contacted former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif and advised him to return to the country from abroad and mobilise the workers before the elections.

They said Hamza Shehbaz could play an important role because of his contacts with party leaders and workers, so his presence in the country would benefit the PML-N in the elections of the provincial assembly.

The sources said the former CM was expected to return to the country during the next fortnight.

Sources close to the PML-N leader said he had travelled to London earlier for the treatment of his daughter, after which he had returned to Pakistan and started meeting party activists.

However, he has again gone abroad due to the treatment of his mother and daughter.

He is likely to arrive during the ongoing month and work with PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz in the election campaign in Punjab.

The leaders said Hamza had remained in prison for 22 months, which was the longest period for any member of his family. He will also meet former prime minister Nawaz Sharif before his return to the country.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Federal Minister Malik Ahmed Khan said chief organiser Maryam Nawaz has started the party’s election campaign in Punjab.

According to former provincial minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, interviews will be started to select the candidates of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

He said the names of three candidates would be shortlisted for each constituency.

Meanwhile, the PML-Quaid is inviting applications from its candidates.

PML-Q spokesperson Iqbal Chaudhry said the party would actively participate in the elections and its leadership would soon make an announcement in this regard.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) city president Asla Gill also said the party was vigorously preparing for the coming elections.

He said the PPP was receiving applications for election tickets across the province and the applicants would be interviewed later.

He said the party leadership would take the final decision about the candidates

Gill said the PPP had played an important role in the recent by-elections in the National Assembly constituency NA-133 and it was upbeat about its performance in the next polls.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2023.