Don't join PTI if refused Senate ticket, Nawaz tells applicants

PM urges applicants who applied for ticket for Senate elections to stay in PML-N, assures of accommodation elsewhere

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged applicants who are not awarded a Senate ticket from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) to stay in the party and not leave it, particularly for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The premier held a meeting on Monday with candidates who have applied for a ticket for contesting elections in the Upper House and assured them that everyone would be accommodated elsewhere even if they are not awarded a ticket. This time the PML-N has a limited number of seats for Senate as opposed to the number of applicants.

Sources said that the PTI is usually the alternative forum for PML-N workers and office bearers who develop differences or are refused tickets -- something which haunts the party leadership the most.

Expressing his views on the occasion, the prime minister said the PML-N holds the honour of having the maximum number of applicants for Senate elections, and thanked all the applicants for reposing confidence in the party and its reform agenda.

“All applicants possess exceptional qualities, and even if they do not acquire tickets to contest in Senate elections, they should continue to work for strengthening the party as well as the democratic system in the country,” he said.

Sources told The Express Tribune that several heavyweights, already holding important portfolios, have applied for Senate tickets, while there are only a handful of candidates who don’t have family members already serving on key posts in the government.

Although the PML-N's parliamentary board conducted each candidate’s interview last week, and finalised the names, Prime Minister Nawaz has up until now avoided meeting the candidates. However, on Monday, more than 190 applicants gathered and met the premier at the Punjab House. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present at the meeting.

The premier is expected to announce the final list of Senate tickets.

According to PML-N officials, it is the modus operandi of Prime Minister Nawaz as party chairman that he holds the final meeting with applicants.

Meanwhile, earlier today, PM Nawaz chaired a meeting of central parliamentary board for formulating a strategy for the forthcoming polls. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Raja Zafarul Haq, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, and Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, among other party leaders.