Nisar to contest elections as independent candidate on four seats

• Says he never sought a PML-N ticket, neither does he depend on it

ISLAMABAD: Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Sunday submitted nomination papers for two National Assembly and two Punjab Assembly seats as an independent candidate, widening the gulf with his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Nisar filed the nomination papers through his aide Sheikh Aslam with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Rawalpindi office for NA-59 Rawalpindi, NA-63 Taxila and Punjab Assembly’s PP-10 and PP-12, reported a local English daily.

According to reports, the former minister could not appear himself as he is on bed rest due to a severe backache.

The move comes as a preemptive measure on part of Nisar to counter any situation arising out of the PML-N leadership’s decision on awarding him party’s ticket.

Meanwhile, speaking to media on Sunday, Nisar said that he does not know why absurd ploys are being staged to deny party ticket to me. He added that he does not seek PML-N ticket and neither is he dependent upon it.