Before issuing the final list of candidates, the party leadership had been in talks with potentially strong contenders of the province. PHOTO: FILE
With the confidence of getting a clear win in Punjab, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz announced its list of candidates for the province.
Despite months of negotiations with several contending parties, the PML-N, almost to no surprise, has decided to go solo in Punjab.
Before issuing the final list of candidates, the party leadership had been in talks with potentially strong contenders of the province. However, the final list of candidates, for the 148 seats in the National Assembly and 297 seats for the Provincial Assembly, released by the party now only revolves around its own members.
According to PML-N’s party performance report, Jamaat-e-Islami—under the flag of Pakistan Islamic Front—in the 1993 elections gave tough competition to the party. JI divided PML-N’s right-wing vote bank resulting in the loss of 23 valuable National Assembly seats.
Previously in the 2002 elections, the JI contested elections under the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) banner and won a number of significant seats in Punjab. However, following differences with the government MMA decided to boycott the 2008 polls. For this year’s elections the rightist party was in talks over seat adjustments with PML-N but the Nawaz Sharif-led party refused to accept JI’s demands of urban seats of Punjab which went against their interests.
Similarly, talks with Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded ended on a sour note last month. PML-N refused to award party tickets to any member of Likeminded across the country. PML-N in its official list, refused to award tickets to two Likeminded senior leaders including Hamid Nasir Chattha who sought the tickets for NA-101 Wazirabad, and Humayoun Akhtar Khan, who wanted NA-79 Lahore ticket.
The PML-N although in alliance with three members of the MMA and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional during its previous tenure refused to accommodate any members from other parties for the May 11 polls.
Two members who had previously contested elections as members of the MMA, Noor Haider Khan Niazi and Kaswar Langrial, will contest the elections from the PML-N platform.
Despite the fact that PML-N and PML-F who are to contest elections under 10 parties alliance in Sindh, PML-N has brought up its own candidate, Sultan Hanjra, against the PML-F’s Provincial President Mustafa Khar for NA-176 Muzaffargarh.
Out of 148 NA seats in Punjab NA-173 (DG Khan) and NA-195 (Rahim Yar Khan) are left open. PPP’s candidate Sardar Saifuddin Khan Khosa will contest against an independent candidate Sardar Awais Khan Leghari for NA-173 while PML-Q’s Khusro Bakhtiar is going to contest against PPP’s candidate for NA-195.
The senior leadership of the party including Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will contest elections from more than one constituency.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2013.
Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly stated that Noor Haider Khan Niazi and Kaswar Langrial were not contesting from the PML-N platform. The error has been rectified.
COMMENTS (26)
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@sajjad: Did you mean to say Sh. Mujib?
@javaid iqbal randhawa: Your comments indicate that you're confused. "....Tahreek i insaf but unfortunately it is not doing enough for elections although they could have done better." What are you expecting them to do for the elections? Give out money or keemey waley naan? If 80% new faces, 35% youth and most number of minority tickets doesn't mean anything then stay home on election day. Don't bother voting.
My first priority to vote was Jamat i islami but it cannot win a single seat in Pakistan. 2nd preference was Tahreek i insaf but unfortunately it is not doing enough for elections although they could have done better. I always voted for MUSLIM LEAGUE(n) but it has gone to their agenda which I cannot understand. Nawaz Sharif may take good seats but cannot do well in Govt. He will rely on Ch Nissar who had sent him in jail by promoting Pervaiz Musharaf and not Gen Ali Quli Khan. He will rely on Ishaq Dar who had damaged our economy by wrong decisions. He is not highlighting weaknesses of ppp as he does not want ppp out of the game.
@Sindhi: is it confidence or self destruction mode....??????? and if PML-N is so confident then why they are trying seat adjustments and alliances in other provinces......remember you have say in your own courtyard but not in others.....(sobre translation of an urdu idiom...if u know what i mean)
That’s the confidence all other parties can only wish for !!!
PML-N refused to award party tickets to any member of Likeminded across the country.
It's a wrong decision PTI will sweap as like Bhutoo in 1970
hahaha So now ET has been assigned responsibility of announcing Official statements from PMLN
Itna biased na ho wrna Prime Minister IMRAN KHAN K samnai Sharam sei pani pani ho jao gaye :)
@muhammad dildar khan: @Javed Afridi:
Exactly the same comment from both, verbatim! Dr. Jackyl, sister Hyde?
Lambs to the slaughter by PTI--bring 'em on!
I thank PMLN president for accommodating us and other friends (PPP relatives+ friends)
But I fear that young generation will not support PMLN :(
stating wrong facts bro!! In the constituincey if my residenc NA-52, Raja Bashrat the combined candidate of PML-Q & PPPP is fielded against CH Nisar. And in Gojar Khan, the arch rival of Raja Pervaiz, Ch Riaz is fielded against Raja Pervaiz by PMLN.....stating wrong facts wont make IK PM nor u an local politics expert :)
@Muhammad Junaid Tayyab:
For each term parties cultivate their vote banks on performance bases. This is Punjab not Sindh. Performance matters here and PML N has performed without corruption there is no doubt.
PTI already go solo not only in Punjab but also in other provinces too. if PML N has dare, to go solo also in other provinces. i don't think so they do it, where is the ideology? The only agenda is to won the seat by hook or by crook.@Javed Afridi:
PML N performance in punjab has been dismal to say the least. Any nation is developed on education and health. In punjab gdp was 2.7% as compared to 3 in federal which is way beyond the normal standards. Enrollment rate in schools of punjab has decreased in the last 5 years. In health sector no improvement has been made whose after effects can still be seen with infant children dying due to measles outbreak and lack of medicines.
they dont need to do alliance with any other party .. they are already in alliance with PPP ... PPP is supporting Ch Nisar while PMLN supporting raja rental on gojar khan .. both parties are also in alliance on various seats of KPK as both parties dnt have suitable candidates
Its not confidence but pressure from pti.....Nawaz will always be a follower...spineless leader....Imran will come out victorious.....
Going solo is correct strategy.Let other parties win without support of PML-N.
@Umair: What do you mean by "again"?.. PTI will clean sweep! and you just admitted that on last word of your statement.
Too arrogant from PML N but it does teach a well deserved lesson to all those "Like Minded" members. It will not matter a lot on results of elections when PTI will beat them in central and South Punjab too.
12-May-2013: Its Offical: PML-N goes "DOWN" solo in Punjab. PTI to form goverment after clean sweep!
A big mistake, JI will have only take away the voters of pmln. Then the biggest threat PTI. Going solo will cost n league.
That’s the confidence all other parties can only wish for !!!
Very Good decision, alliances always come up with unnecessary demands of allies and effect performance of ruling party.
PML N remains best performer in punjab and they will cultivate their vote bank again.
That's the confidence all other parties can only wish for !!!