The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has officially unveiled its candidates for the upcoming National Assembly elections, while announcing on the social media platform X. The big names include, Barrister Shoaib Shaheen, Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Sher Afzal Marwat and DR.Yasmeen Rashid.
📌 عام انتخابات برائے 8 فروری 2024 کیلئے پاکستان تحریک انصاف نے امیدواروں کی فہرست جاری کر دی، تفصیلات کیلئے لنک : https://t.co/H1T1sfJ1Pd
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 12, 2024
Shafqat and Farrukh opted out
While, Shafqat Mahmood, the former minister, took to X to announce his withdrawal from the electoral contest in Lahore NA-128 and PA-170. Clarifying that he is not affiliated with any specific constituency. Simultaneously, Farrukh Habib of IPP, withdrew his nomination papers for NA-102, NA-101, PA-114, and PA-115 in Faisalabad. In a noteworthy statement, legal representative attributed his withdrawal to ‘personal issues,’ dismissing any political motivations.
Correction NA 128 https://t.co/jyQmOGGGZC
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) January 12, 2024
Achakzai in favor of Fazal Ur Rehman as Sharif withdrew from Karachi
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the PakhtunKhaw Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), also withdrew from the NA-265 constituency, throwing his support behind JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. In Karachi, the political landscape witnessed strategic moves as PML-N faced challenges with seat adjustments, with MQM-P declining to withdraw its candidate Mustafa Kamal from NA-242 in the favour of Shahbaz Sharif. Sensing the conditions PMLN withdrew Shahbaz’s paper from NA-242.
PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi announced Khawaja Shoaib as the party’s candidate for NA-242, citing a lack of consensus with MQM-P. This decision followed MQM-P’s assertion that Mustafa Kamal would be their candidate for NA-242, leading to clarifications by Khalid Maqbool, denying any seat adjustment reports between MQM-P and PML-N.
More to read: To delay elections another resolution submitted in Senate
In another development, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) announced the cancellation of seat adjustment plans with PML-N in Punjab’s Gujrat district. The decision came after PML-N fielded candidates in Gujrat, considered a stronghold of PML-Q. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, PML-Q’s Senior Vice President, explained that they would not tolerate double standards and emphasized that PML-N had fielded candidates in their preferred constituencies in Gujrat. PML-N has nominated candidates for both National Assembly and provincial legislature seats in Gujrat district.