The PML-N parliamentary board has finally approved a new face for the upcoming by-election in NA-48 and it has been decided that senior lawyer and PML-N worker Zafarullah Khan would contest for the seat which was won and vacated by PTI’s Javed Hashmi in the general elections. However, the party ticket for NA-71 Mianwali has been approved for an old face and veteran politician, Ubaidullah Khan Shadikhel.
The ruling party’s candidates would contest against PTI’s giants in both constituencies as Zafarullah would face PTI’s Asad Umar in NA-48 while in Mianwali, Shadikhel would face Ayla Malik.
A source in the PML-N told Pakistan Today that during the parliamentary board’s meeting chaired by PML-N chief and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the most discussed constituency remained NA-48 for which the top contenders were rejected with majority for having “scandalous past” and having no worth among the voters of posh areas of the federal capital.
The meeting, attended by Shahbaz Sharif, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Nisar Ali Khan, Pervaiz Rashid, Ahsan Iqbal, Saad Rafiq, Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Anusha Rahman, Raja Zafarul Haq, Rana Sanaullah, also nominated Ubaidullah Shadikhel for by-poll for NA-71, Mianwali.
The source said during the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif advocated for allocation of the party’s ticket to former MNA Hanif Abbasi, who had lost polls from NA-56 Rawalpindi against PTI chief Imran Khan in the general polls.
“Shahbaz Sharif had to face severe opposition from the majority of the participants as Nisar Ali Khan, Zafarul Haq and others opposed award of ticket to Abbasi, stating that the tainted past of Abbasi had been a reason for his defeat from NA-56 and the voters of Islamabad would also not vote for him on the same basis. The participants said Abbasi used to drag the party into controversies and his outspoken nature may lead the party into future controversies,” the source said.
The source added that majority of the participants were of the view that not only Abbasi had a tainted past and his alleged involvement in the Ephedrine case may trigger another controversy, it would also not be wise to field him against a strong PTI candidate, Umar, whose campaign would be run by none other than the Khan himself.
The source added that Anjum Aqeel’s name was also trashed for having allegations over land fraud in the National Police Foundation Embezzlement case.
“The participants agreed that Aqeel was the only candidate who could win from NA-48 as he enjoyed support in rural areas of the constituency. However, the participants also agreed that the party’s government was already facing criticism due to massive load shedding and price hike and it was highly unlikely that he could win from posh areas,” the source said.
The attendees were shocked when political secretary to the prime minister, Asif Kirmani, during the meeting proposed the name of Ashraf Gujjar for the by-polls and also supported his candidature going out of his prescribed limitations.
“Not only the meeting disapproved the ‘meddling’ of Kirmani in political matters but also they said Gujjar had no political following among the workers and he may land the party into another debacle in the federal capital,” the source added.
The source said the participants agreed on the nomination of Zafarullah Khan who is a renowned lawyer and is a senior PML-N leader working days and nights for the cause of the party in the federal capital.
The source added that the meeting also considered the nomination of Faisal Shah Hamdani but majority was of the view that an educated lawyer would be a better option for running from the federal capital.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Railways fully backed the nomination of Zafarullah and said he enjoyed support among party workers while he was also popular among legal fraternity.
“So, the party decided to take a risk in general polls and decided in principle that people with tainted past would not be accepted in the party. They also said making hollow slogans would backfire and only well educated people would be preferred,” the source added.
It will be a great contest between two rivals PTI stands best chance to defeat PML N candidate PTI is well liked by majority of Pakistani voters because they are a party of honest people They worry for the money of the nation whereas PML N and PPP do not have a great record Good luck PTI
Asad Umar all the way! 🙂
who is zafarullah? no body knows.i rthink pml n has decided to lose the seat.Gujjaw was the best option for pml n activists.
barrister zafarullah khan is a person who enjoys marrying again and again. He married three times, first was his love marriage from whom he had a son. She was a doctor. He kicked her out after 3 months. his second marriage was to a simple girl from his cast Chawan. he has a daughter from her. he kicked her out after 7 years of marriage. he and his family tortured her mentally so much that ultimately she tried to shot herself. his third wife was from a pathan family. he also kicked her out after 2 years of marriage, did'nt bother where she is, is she alive or dead. i even heard he doesn't pay her maintenance as per islamic rule is right of every husband towards his wife. now tell me how a person can run a political office or able to do some welfare for citizens of pakistan who doesn't care for people in his immediate responsibility. may Allah have mercy on Pakistan
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