A PMl-N official said that the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate, Nadeem Afzal Chan, might get three or four more votes than the party’s share. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” he said. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) has finalised preparations for the Senate elections in the Punjab on Thursday and has constituted panels to ensure that its provincial Assembly members vote in accordance with the party’s line.
A PMl-N official said that the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate, Nadeem Afzal Chan, might get three or four more votes than the party’s share. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” he said.
He said that they were expecting the PML-N to win all 11 seats in the Punjab, since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had not fielded any candidates. “Some MPAs from Zulfiqar Ali Khosa’s group in south Punjab might not vote for our candidates as they have reservations against three PML-N candidates from Karachi who have been nominated for Senate seats from the Punjab.” He said even this would not affect the Senate election results.
He said the PML-N would win the most seats – “it has 312 seats in the Punjab Assembly”. He said the PPP had eight seats in the provincial assembly. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid will support its candidate, but the PML-Q, too, has eight seats in the Assembly, he said. “The PTI has 30 seats but it will not participate in the voting.”
A PML-N office bearer explained that a candidate for general seat would require 48 votes to win a seat for Senate. For the two seats for women and technocrats, a candidate would require 169 votes. Each candidate can cast two votes – the first priority vote and the second priority vote. Four second priority votes equal one first priority vote.
“Panels have been formed by the party and candidates have been told how to cast the first and second priority votes. A candidate may choose to cast only one vote,” he said. Rana Arshad, a parliamentary secretary in the Punjab Assembly, said preparations for the polls were final and the party was expecting to win all 11 seats. “Panels have been formed and the party’s MPAs would vote in accordance with party policy. There will be no surprises...we are expecting a smooth sailing.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2015.
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