The party has advised Shahbaz to contest the election from various cities across Punjab. PHOTO: FILE
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has hinted that neither Nawaz Sharif nor Shahbaz Sharif would contest the forthcoming elections against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan from Lahore.
According to sources, the party’s senior leadership, during a meeting of its parliamentary board, strongly advised the Sharif brothers against contesting elections from constituencies where Imran Khan would be standing.
Out of 13 National Assembly seats in Lahore, the PML-N has advised Nawaz to contest from NA 120. The party’s central board will soon decide on whom to field against the PTI chairman, who is contemplating running for NA-126 Lahore.
On the other hand, the party has advised Shahbaz to contest election from various cities across the province. However, Nawaz will take a final decision in this regard.
Differences within boards
The PML-N’s Central Parliamentary Board and the provincial boards of Balochistan and Sindh are divided over awarding tickets to poll aspirants, while the provincial boards of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have amicably resolved their issues.
The party leadership failed to finalise candidates in Balochistan for 14 National Assembly seats due to differences within the party’s provincial board. According to sources, one group is led by PML-N Balochsitan President Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri and Nawab Lashkari Raisani, while the other is led by Nawabzada Changez Khan Marri and Mir Liaquat Jamali.
The Marri group – which consists of long-time party members – has alleged that PML-N is trying to please the Sardars and willing to award tickets to their nominees. The Zehri-Raisani group is considered a ‘rich’ group, which has attained clout in the party by donating millions to the party fund.
Sources said that Nawaz has already taken a decision regarding candidates in Balochistan, but is waiting to heal the intra-party rift before making a formal announcement.
Sources said that while there is a division in Sindh also, it is less intense compared to Balochistan.
Once again, Nawaz has already made a decision regarding Sindh’s candidates but an announcement in this regard is yet to be made.
According to unofficial details, Zain Ansar will run for NA 257 seat, Marvi Memon for NA 237, Liaquat Jatoi from Dadu, Elahi Bukhs Soomro from Jaccobabad, Zafar Ali Shah from Naushero Feroz, Ghous Ali Shah from Khairpur, Amir Buksh Bhutto from Shahdad Kot and Sher Muhammad Rind from Nawabshah.
Punjab
According to sources, PTI senior leader Sikandar Bosan is in talks with the PML-N, so the party has reserved NA 151 for him. Furthermore, unofficial details suggest that Ghaffar Dogar will run for NA 148 and Tariq Rashid and Rana Mehmood for NA 149 and NA 150, respectively.
In Lahore, Riaz Malik will run for NA 118, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif for NA 119, and Nawaz Sharif for NA 120.
PML-Likeminded General Secretary Humayoun Akhtar Khan has been awarded a ticket for NA 79 Faisalabad.
K-P candidates
Meanwhile, the PML-N has finalised its candidates for both National and provincial assembly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The provincial parliamentary board had earlier conducted interviews of potential candidates for both NA and provincial assembly seats on March 24 and 26 respectively and had conveyed its decision to the central parliamentary board of the party the same day.
Candidates for NA 26 Bannu and NA 32 Chitral are yet to be finalised.
Those who will contest the general elections from the party platform for 35 National Assembly in K-P include Iqbal Zafar Jhagra from NA3 Peshawar III and Umer Ayub Khan from NA 19, Haripur.
With additional reporting from Abdur Rauf in Peshawar.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2013.
Correction: Earlier version of the story incorrectly stated Mir Liaquat Jamali's name as Mehar Liaquat Jamali. It has been fixed.
COMMENTS (64)
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@Punjabi: "Let me write ” Lol “ . Are you writing "Lol" because two mohajirs (immigrants) are fighting each other? NS's family came from Amritsar/Jalandhar. After partition IK's daddy moved from Meerath/Dehradun to Pakistan.
I am so ashamed on being a PMLN supporter. You have made us ashamed in front of PTI when they did election, while you elected garbage from every party. Last election we told every one vote for us by cashing the anti bhutto and anti musharaf vote. Now i dont know what to tell them. I am trying to tell them.once you come in power, please control this media and ban this social media
Every politician tries to play safe by contesting elections from parental contituency. Imran Khan is taking part in polls from his native seat of NA-71 Mianwali. Nawaz Sharif is also doing the same, by appearing in votes from NA-120. Don't be too happy PTI supporters :)
Nawaz Sharif contests elections from NA-120, which is constituency where his childhood home is situated. It was Imran Khan, who had revealed to face NS. So he should have filed nomination papers from NA-120 instead of NA-126. Have courage PTI fans :)
Mian sher hai. He is realistic, experienced, loyal and smart. Imran is show off. Wazir-e-azam Nawaz Sharif.
I am not a politician but have in depth knowledge of political, economic national and international affairs. On the basis of my analysis I am sure that Sharif Brothers have an edge over Imran Khan, They have made alliances with various parties in all provinces with other parties. Their candidates are more influential and powerful in their constituencies. In the case of Imran Khan it can be said that his candidates will definitely get some seats in Punjab and NWFP but a large number of his candidates are new to elections and people of their constituencies are not familiar even with their names what to speak of winning their seats. Imran has no alliance with any other party in the country. His position in Sind and Baluchistan is very weak.
Yep, Mufti Mahmood was! @cyrus:
@ E. Tribune
its Mir Liaquat Jamali, not 'mehar.
Kindly correct the typo.
Good decision... @Mirza Salman....you are under estimating Imran Khan
my vote for PTI. Speak for a change
IK is the real hero of pakistan. He loves his country and people and peace .i request to all pak people to give him another cup.vot pti
IN SHA ALLAH Imran Khan will make his government all across the Pakistan.........!!
@saima siddiqui: funniest comment of the lot! Vote for PTI! A Karachi PTI Supporter
Lollzz.. i'm 110% sure imran khan will lost all its 4 seats... :D
Wow....imran khan has really for mian sahib on the run! My poor husband is so distressed....all his life he thought that mian sabib was a real lion....but it turns out he is not. I even put on the lion king cartoon for my husband but that is not cheering him up....
Nawaz Sharif can win against anyone as far as Lahore is concerned.
AOA.
my vote is for PTI. For new Pakistan
Just like the great Khan lifted the cricket world cup, he wil Inshallah be taking the oath as the next PM of Pakistan
lol poor sharif brothers.
SC should put ban on contesting on more than one place.
SS has submitted his nomination papers in NA-55! Dare I say that Sheeda Tully should give the first draft of his political obituary in all the major publications way in advance.
I have lived all my life in Lahore. I dont belong to any political party and have never voted and I am telling you if it is going to be a fair poll then PTI will win all 13 Lahore MNA seats
Wise decision if you ask me! IK is an absolute nobody to compete against the Sharifs. IK should end up thanking his lucky stars if he does not get dismembered too badly at the hands of Hanif Abbasi from NA-55.
Imran can't do any thing against PML(N) because it's not ground of cricket.
have a rest and rethink many times again how to twist it ,lolx
I m from karachi..inshallah this tym my vote for pti..!
Cheap propaganada.
@Azmat Ali: Mr Azmat NA 126 include Model Town. Do you know which family plagues the existence of Model Town ? Whose heartland is it where Khan is standing from. Man, I have never voted in my life. But for the first time in my life i am gonna vote no matter what. And i booked my flight on 9th May to come to NA126, my home constituency in Lahore, from Italy (where i live) only to vote out the Baldies and bring in some one who atleast wont sell my country. Now this is a personal tsunami !. Add up the passion of 180 million and guess whats coming.
By The Way It was IK who challenged to contest agnst Nawaz Sharif but has now taken another u-turn, and I remember Javed Hashmi challenged Ch Nisar and said he will contest against him. Where are they both?? I DARE IMRAN to contest against NS as he claimed many times to Clean Sweep.
just saw on express news (TV), shahbaz sharif is expected to contest from mianwali. is that correct. btw, all the PTI guys, if IK phas courage, he shud contest from inner lahore constituencies to contest any person fighting with tiger sign
Yesterday's beating of their worker and today's concern over contesting against Imran is sure sign of PMLN's depression.
Cheap and very cheap. winning & losing is part of the game. A very popular leader, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto lost to maolana mufti mehmood and Ghulam Ahmad Bilour. Does that mean they were more popular and better leaders than Z A Bhutto?
@Shaami: Khawaja saad is the only face left in PML Nbut he cannot and need not to contest against IK as N126 is not his strong card and IK is the real power now, PML N will throw. Saad out as they did with Hashmi of the fear of his popularity,mian saab should take courage to face real power IK
Imposter brothers know they dont stand a chance against the champion Khan. Go Imran Go,we all these are the first signs of victory. My vote for PTI inshaAllah
Have to appreciate non-political sense prevailing here. You won't see any top level leadership contesting directly against each other. Doesnt mean they are scared or something. Get a life please.
The tiger will be extinct soon If nawaz doesnt fight against IL then PML is really finished
PTI guys who are enthusiastic over this news: Did IK announce to contest against sharif brothers? Democratic parties keep this norm to file weaker candidates against 1-2 top leaders, appreciate this trend by PTI and PML-N rather than laughing over it.
Guys-- what about the other news that Shahbaz Sharif is contesting election against IK from MInawali-- Which is IK's home ground??? :)
sharifs have been contesting from lahore for decades now it is imran who is contesting from lahore because of the cheap publicity he is getting after spending millions in media also he knows whatever few votes he will get it will be from the city area in rural areas his surity even will be forfeited
@ayesha: PML N minar e pakistan show is long due,,people think of them 2nd in punjab now
I can only say lot of lolz
PMLN shall not award tickets to those who did not cared to do any party work in district CHAKWAL. We wish to see new and youb workers in Chakwal otherwise PMLN voters shall be forced to vote for PTI.
PML N is aware of the shock they can get, PTI is true force now. Every 1 in lahore is saying that till Pml N show their power at minar e pakistan,it will be so.diffiult for PML N to convince the votters,,think of it PML N as every1start thinking of u 2nd force in punjab and specifically Lahore
he will lose from other PTI candidates too.
HEHE Because they know IMRAN KHAN would win beat these two brothers any day :) VOTE PTI please
Let me write " Lol "
If PMLN selects Khwaja Sahab from NA-126 rather than letting him to contest from NA-125 then things could change for PMLN against Imran. Khwaja Saad Rafique is a very respectable person in Lahore due to his Family affiliation with Pakistan Movement and Older generation of Lahore and Immigrant Population who came from India and later assimilated in Punjab and Lahore are all behind Khawaja Saad Rafique.
thats politics. not sure if NS ever contested from NA126. it all depends on constituency, anyone from PMLN can defeat IK from certain constituencies like125, 123. zaeem qadri will contest from 126 and wont give IK walk over.
Scared much? triumph laughter
Cheap Sensationalism.
Donot contest against imran, otherwise tsunami of people will sweep u away.
Mian sahib should show some courage and fight against Imran Khan. Sharifs had been ruling the province, and Lahore is their home constituency where they spent almost 80% of the development budget of the whole province, now they should be more confident and face the PTI chairman.
They have already conceded defeat. Good for Imran Khan.
So sharif's think that they will win if they don't contest against Kaptan? PTI has other candidates too which will contest against them and will win too.
NA 120 is the constituency of Nawaz sharif since long time so this is not true that he is going to leave anything for IK, ... IK said he will contest against NS in Capital Talk, so he has to contest for NA 120 not for NA 126.
Could the news reporting be any more bias?
Just concentrate on the words used:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has "hinted" ...
According to "sources" ...
This is nothing more than speculative journalism.
P.S. Tribune team I hope my comment gets published. Thank you.
Now where are the geniuses who were laughing at Imran's decision to run from 4 seats? They don't know the ABC of Pakistan's politics. IK has become a maestro of a politician, those who ignore this fact do so at their own risk.
This must be RED HEADLINE NEWS. Viva tsunami, viva! Bravo bouncer bowler! The Lions of Lahore are finding it difficult to duck the bowling. Salams