Voice of dissent: Sabir Shah rejects nomination as covering candidate in Senate polls

Vows to support Iqbal Jhagra, Salahuddin Tirmizi in upcoming elections.

PESHAWAR: Provincial chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Pir Sabir Shah has urged the party’s central leadership to remove his name as a covering candidate for the upcoming Senate elections.

Speaking to journalists at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Shah threatened to give up his post as the party’s provincial president if his name is not removed from the list of covering candidates. “Moreover, if the central leadership forces me to apply as a covering candidate, I will submit my nomination papers as a party worker rather than PML-N’s president in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

Shah requested the party’s central leadership to nominate another covering candidate. “While I respect their decision, I cannot accept being nominated as a covering candidate,” he said.



Nonetheless, the PML-N leader voiced confidence over the party’s decision to award tickets for the Senate polls. Shah clarified he has no reservations regarding the allocation of seats.

“A large number of political parties have various misconceptions regarding the Senate seats,” he said. “However, I have no reservations and completely trust the decision of the party’s central leadership on who to nominate. The party leaders have the right to issue a ticket to anyone.”

Earlier, on Wednesday, the PML-N awarded tickets to two candidates from K-P—Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, a senior party leader in K-P, and Salahuddin Tirmizi, a retired general. “I respect the decision taken by the party’s central leadership,” Shah said.

The provincial president also lauded the services rendered to the PML-N by both nominees. “Both leaders have played an active role in the party. We will support both candidates and ensure they are successful in the
Senate polls.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.