Shehbaz Sharif going for Karachi NA seats

For the first time in decades, Pakistan’s largest city Karachi is set to see the leadership of at least three major political parties contesting from its various constituencies as the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) also decided to field its president Shehbaz Sharif from here, after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has opted for it.Sharif, who assumed the party’s highest post after the disqualification of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, would contest for three National Assembly (NA) seats from Karachi – NA-248, NA-249, and NA-250, PML-N leaders confirmed after the party’s parliamentary board meeting in Lahore yesterday.However, they said, the PML-N president would not be in Karachi the last day for filing nomination papers for the general elections due to his preoccupation somewhere else.Instead, former Punjab minister Rana Mashhood would file the papers, which have already been received by the party’s general secretary in Sindh, Saleem Zia, on his behalf.“The PML-N parliamentary board members are of the opinion that the party head should contest from Karachi as well, because law and order has been restored to the city due to the PML-N government’s policies,” said PML-N leader Mohammad Mehdi.Just a couple of days ago, the PTI had announced that chairman Imran Khan would also contest the upcoming elections from Karachi’s NA-243 constituency, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will contest from the PPP’s stronghold, Lyari, for NA-246 seat.Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar, and Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal will contest from the NA-247 constituency comprising areas of Defence, Clifton, Saddar, Arambagh, and Karachi cantonment.Khawaja Tariq Nazeer, the PML-N’s information secretary, said that Rana Mashhood would file nomination papers on behalf of his party president in the constituencies falling in Karachi’s West district.PML-N leaders, however, said that Sharif might withdraw from NA-250 in support of Awami National Party (ANP) chief Shahi Syed in case of seat adjustment.A PML-N insider said Sharif would contest from NA-249: “Shehbaz may file nomination papers from three constituencies of Karachi but he would contest from NA-249.”Earlier, the PML-N’s Senator Mushahidullah Khan had planned to contest from NA-249.NA-249 (West II) comprises Saeedabad, Gulshan-i-Ghazi, Naval Colony, Ittehad Town, Rasheedabad, Islam Nagar, parts of Baldia Town, and Mominabad.“Since the PML-N stands a good chance from this constituency, Shehbaz Sharif will take his chances from NA-249,” the party insider added.While the PML-N is under pressure in Punjab, where many of its leaders have joined the PTI, it is hopeful that its performance in Sindh may improve in the upcoming elections.Besides Karachi, Sharif is likely to run for two NA seats – one each from Lahore and Dera Ghazi Khan.“The decision whether or not Shehbaz should also contest on a Provincial Assembly (PA) seat in Punjab has not been taken by the board. But former foreign minister Khawaja Asif will contest for a provincial seat in addition to the National Assembly from Sialkot,” the PML-N insider said, adding that one could not say with certainty at the moment whether Shehbaz would have a role to play in the Centre or whether Khawaja Asif might be retained in Punjab for party politics.Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz appeared before the party’s parliamentary board yesterday to seek tickets for polls, apparently making it mandatory for everyone, including the party’s maverick leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, to appear before the board to obtain the ticket.Chaudhry Nisar reacted to this condition by asking whether it had ever happened in the past that the most senior members of the party, who had been elected members of parliament several times, were made to appear before the board to seek the party ticket.“I ask the Jati Umra residents (the Sharifs) to not make mockery of themselves by indulging in such childish acts and also not ridicule me,” he said.He asked the PMLN leadership to stop making excuses for not awarding him the party ticket.Maryam Nawaz, who also appeared before the party’s parliamentary board at its sixth meeting for party ticket yesterday, has filed nomination papers for Lahore seats NA-125 and NA-127, and she is expected to file nomination papers for another NA seat from another part of Punjab.“Maryam will contest either from NA-125 or NA-127. The NA-125 was previously NA-120 from where her mother, Kulsoom Nawaz, had won the by-polls last September, but she will choose any one of the Lahore seats on a party survey report,” the insider said.Hamza Shahbaz, son of Shehbaz Sharif, is likely to be awarded a party ticket for one NA seat and one PA seat from Lahore.Former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal will contest for an NA seat in Narowal.Former railways minister Saad Rafique announced that since his constituency had been divided into three (constituencies), he would file his nomination papers for two NA seats in Lahore.“Now I will file nomination papers for NA-129 and NA-131 (Lahore),” he said.