Amid mounting criticism over the delay in its election strategy and ticket allocations, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday not only unveiled plans to kickstart its electoral campaign on January 15 but also finalised the distribution of party tickets across 21 districts, including Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala.
This update was confirmed at the time of this report's filing. As per the party's notification, PML-N distributed National Assembly tickets and provincial assembly seats among candidates hailing from 21 districts. The recipients spanned Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Sialkot, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Attock, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Kasur, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, and Hafizabad.
The party seems to have reserved certain seats for potential adjustments with other parties, such as NA-64 Gujrat and two provincial seats under it for PML-N.
As per PML-N leader Abid Raza, the party has allocated NA-64 to Chaudhary Salik Hussain, along with the two associated seats for his party, as part of honouring their commitment.
A surprise inclusion in the allocations was NA-75 (Narowal) being awarded to Chaudhry Anwar Iqbal, which meant that Danyal Aziz was given the boot due to his criticisms against his constituency colleague, Ahsan Iqbal. Contrary to earlier predictions, Ahsan Iqbal not only secured a ticket for NA-76 but also for PP-54.
PML-N also kept its promise to former National Assembly opposition leader Raja Raiz, acknowledging his assistance in allowing PML-N to govern with no checks on it during his tenure as a sham opposition leader. After the conclusion of his assembly term, Raja joined PML-N.
In order to accommodate Raja and company, the party had to ditch its leader Rana Ehsan Afzal. Raja was accommodated on NA-104, while PML-N leader Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali secured NA-102 and Rana Sanaullah claimed NA-100.
Talal Chaudhry is expected to be ditched in a constituency which is yet to be announced.
The party accommodated all its old guards in key NA seats in Toba Tek Singh, such as Chaudhary Khalid Javed on NA-105 and Colonel (retd) Ayub Gadhi on PP-112.
In Jhang, PML-N welcomed a new entrant, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat, who received tickets for NA-108 and PP-125. In Sheikhupura, Rana Tanveer secured the party ticket for NA-114 and PP-139, while Javed Latif obtained the ticket for NA-115.
Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir was given the NA-111 ticket in Nankana Sahib. In Chiniot, PML-N allocated NA-93 to Syed Muhammad Raza Bukhari and NA-94 to Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh. Meanwhile, in Gujranwala, the party granted NA-78 to senior leader Khurram Dastaghir Khan.
The party allocated the following tickets in various constituencies: Sheikh Aftab Ahmed for NA-49 (Attock), Malik Sohail Khan for NA-50 (Attock), Raja Osama Sarwar for NA-51 (Rawalpindi), Raja Muhammad Javeed Ikhlas for NA-52 (Rawalpindi), Raja Qamar Ul Islam for NA-53 (Rawalpindi), Malik Ibrar Ahmad for NA-55 (Rawalpindi), Muhammad Haneef Abbassi for NA-56 (Rawalpindi), Danyal Chaudary for NA-57 (Rawalpindi), Major (retd) Tahir Iqbal for NA-58 (Chakwal), and Sardar Ghullam Abbass for NA-59 (Talagang).
PML-N leader Bilal Yasin secured a PP-6 ticket from Rawalpindi. In addition, PML-N announced the commencement of its election rallies starting on January 15.
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