Nawaz Sharif, Maryam file nomination papers from different constituencies

• Maryam has filed papers from four PP constituencies.
  
• PML-N’s Rana Tanveer Hussain has won NA-120 previously.
• Shehbaz Sharif won PP-165 with a big margin last time.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday filed nomination papers from different constituencies for the general elections, Geo News reported.

PML-N leader Bilal Yasin submitted the nomination papers on behalf of Nawaz Sharif from NA-130 (Lahore-XIV), while Maryam submitted her papers for two National Assembly (NA-119 and NA-120) constituencies. 

Maryam also submitted nomination papers from four constituencies of the Punjab Assembly — PP-159, PP-160, PP-165 and PP-80.

In the 2018 general elections, PTI’s Rahat Aman Ullah Bhatti won the NA-119 (Sheikhupura 1) constituency and PML-N’s Rana Afzaal Hussain stood runner-up, whereas PML-N’s Rana Tanveer Hussain won NA-120 (Sheikhupura 2) and PTI’s Ali Asghar Chaudhry was runner-up. 

On the other hand, NA-130 was won by PTI with PML-N turning up as the second-largest party of the constituency.

PTI won PP-159 and 160 seats of Lahore with a slim margin in the last general elections, while PML-N stood runner-up in both constituencies. On the flip side, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif won PP-165 seat effortlessly last time, but the PML-N lost the PP-80 by a wide margin to the PTI.  

Bilawal challenges Sharif brothers in their stronghold

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has challenged the Sharif brothers in their stronghold of Lahore in the February 8 polls.

The PPP chief on December 22 filed nomination papers from the NA-128 constituency in Lahore which has been traditionally the stronghold of the PML-N with the party securing a majority of seats from the provincial capital in the last many elections.

Along with Bilawal, PPP's Hafiz Ghulam Mohiuddin also filed nomination papers from the NA-128 and PP-170 constituencies while the party's Misbah-ur-Rehman filed nomination papers for the PP-169 seat in the same constituency.

PML-N’s Mian Ahmed Subhan is expected to contest elections against the PPP chief in the NA-128 constituency.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has also announced contesting polls from three constituencies including Lahore.

The much-awaited general elections will take place on February 8, 2024, with the national poll organising authority finally issuing the schedule following the Supreme Court's order.