PML-N parliamentary board interviews hopefuls for election candidacy

LAHORE: The parliamentary board of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) held its meeting today to interview hopefuls for candidacy  in upcoming election.

The PML-N will make the first phase of announcements for party candidates for the national and provincial assembly constituencies for the general election scheduled for July 25.

The party had earlier stated candidates would be announced in two phases. However, a date for the second phase is yet to be announced.

The session was attended by former prime minister Nawaz Sahrif, former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Asif Ashraf and Rana Mashood among others.

During the meeting, the above mentioned were interviewing aspirants for PML-N tickets.

Shehbaz, who was appointed PML-N president after a Supreme Court ruling ordering the removal of Nawaz as party chief, was also interviewed by the party's parliamentary panel.

"Mian Sb, you are the party quaid and it is your decision whether to give me a ticket or not," Shehbaz said before the party board. The former Punjab chief minister was questioned regarding his performance and future plans during the interview.

Nomination papers of PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif were received by the party leaders in Karachi today.

Shehbaz Sharif has submitted nomination papers for NA-248, NA-249, and NA-250. 

Sources earlier said that around the party would give majority tickets to those who were previously members of the national or provincial assemblies.

Regarding Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz, sources earlier said, “It appears that they both will contest elections from three constituencies each.”

“Maryam has been recommended to contest from Karachi as well,” sources further said. 

Further, Nawaz and Shehbaz are said to be at loggerheads over issuing a party ticket to former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar.

It is further believed that alternate candidates will be fielded for some party leaders who are facing cases.

Few turncoats left party: Nawaz

PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that a fair few turncoat politicians left the party and the front made for the cause of southern Punjab died down within two days.

The former PML-N president was addressing the parliamentary board and said that the people in Punjab acknowledge that the amount of development work in the province in the past 10 years is unparalleled.

Nawaz further said that negative propaganda is a part of the politics and he has been seeing it since the day he joined politics

PML-N leaders file nomination papers

The leaders of PML-N submitted nomination papers on Sunday for various constituencies of national and provincial assemblies.

Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar submitted nomination papers for NA-59 (Rawalpindi III) and two seats of Punjab Assembly.

On the other hand, PML-N leader and daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif submitted the nomination papers for NA-127 in Lahore district.

Former foreign minister Khawaj Asif filed his details for PP-37 and Sialkot’s constituency NA-73.