— Yasmin Rashid says I am a public representative while my rival belongs to a ‘royal family’
The contesting candidates of two major political rivals, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have submitted their nominations papers for the by-elections of NA-120.
Pakistan Peoples Party also launched two candidates, Faisal Meer and Hafiz Zubari in NA-120. Both candidates of PPP reached Election Commission accompanied by dozens of party workers. On this occasion, PPP workers chanted slogans “Move ahead Bilawal Bhutto Zardari we are with you,” Pro Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari slogans were also chanted by the PPP activists. PPP has not yet decided who will contest from NA 120. PPP circles are predicting that Hafiz Zubair Kardar is a strong candidate. He also contested in 2013 general elections.
PML-N has fielded ex-premier’s wife Kalsoom Nawaz in the political combat of NA-120, which is going to held on September 17 where Dr Yasmin Rashid will be the opponent. The NA-120 constituency fell vacant after the disqualification of former premier Nawaz Sharif from Supreme Court in Panama Paper case. Yesterday, PML-N’s leaders Asif Kirmani and Capt (r) Safdar arrived at the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Lahore office to submit the nomination papers of Kalsoom Nawaz. Former MPA Hafiz Nauman had submitted nomination papers as covering candidate of Kalsoom Nawaz.
After submitting nomination papers of Kalsoom Nawaz, Asif Kirmani, while talking to media, said that NA-120 will prove to be a ‘Waterloo’ for PTI. He said that PML-N had defeated all its opponents in local government elections, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections. Earlier, reports surfaced that PML-N will field Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif to contest from the vacant constituency as Nawaz announced the name of Shahbaz to succeed him as prime minister. However, the decision was changed and PML-N leadership finalized the name of former first lady of Pakistan — Kalsoom Nawaz to contest in by-elections thinking her the strong candidate for by-elections.
It is pertinent to mention here that Kalsoom Nawaz was the person who successfully led the party’s movement for the release of Nawaz Sharif when he was under detention in Pervaiz Musharraf regime. On the other hand, PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid also went to ECP Lahore office along opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed to submit her nomination papers. PTI already had finalised her name to contest in by-elections of NA-120.
After submitting her nomination papers, Dr Yasmin Rashid said that she had started door to door campaign. She alleged that Punjab government is facilitating PML-N member as government machinery is being used for pre poll rigging. Talking to media, she said that PTI was deprived of putting up banners and flexes. “I am public representative while my rival belongs to royal family,” she added.
Mahmoodur Rasheed alleged that government has all set for pre-poll rigging as rupees 1.20 billion had been released for the development projects in the constituency. He believed that Dr Yasmin Rashid will give a tough time to the rivals. According to ECP sources, at least 35 nomination papers had been taken from ECP by different candidates for NA-120’s by-elections. As per ECP schedule, today will be the last day of submitting nomination papers while the scrutiny of the papers will be held between August 15 and 17 and the final list of candidates will be issued on August 26.