Ali Pervaiz expected to contest from NA-127 following Maryam’s ouster

–ECP to issue new ballot papers after removing Maryam Nawaz’s name

–PML-N election offices wear deserted look

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supported candidate Ali Pervaiz Malik is expected to contest the upcoming general elections from Lahore’s NA-127 constituency after the disqualification of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz.

As per the details, Ali Pervaiz Malik had submitted his nomination papers as the covering candidate of Maryam Nawaz and was allotted TV as his electoral symbol in the capacity of an independent candidate. He is the son of PML-N Lahore president and a candidate from Lahore’s NA-133 constituency, Pervaiz Malik.

Rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has fielded Jamshed Iqbal Cheema from the said constituency, while the total number of candidates, after Maryam’s disqualification, is 9. Among others who are running in the race for NA-127 are Chaudhry Adnan Sarwar (Pakistan People’s Party), Chaudhry Muhammad Alyas (All Pakistan Muslim League), Ali Pervaiz (independent), Muhammad Ahmed, (independent), Muhammad Zaheer (Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan), Musarrat Jamshed (independent ) and Mian Aamir Abbas (Allah-o-Akar Tehreek supported by Milli Muslim League of Jamaatud Dawa).

It merits mention here that Maryam, who had shifted to NA-127 constituency from NA-125, is currently looking after her ailing mother Kulsoom Nawaz in London. The areas in the NA-127 constituency include Baghbanpura, Kot Khawaja Saeed, China Scheme, Mahmood Booti, UET, Mujahidabad, Ganj Mughalpura, Darsbaray Mian, Pakistan Mint, Singhpura, Jameelahabad, Railway Power House, Baja Line and Nishtar Park.

Earlier on Friday, an accountability court announced the verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), handing ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif a 10-year jail time for owning assets beyond income and one year for not cooperating with NAB.

His daughter Maryam Nawaz was handed seven years in jail for abetment and 1 year for non-cooperation with the bureau.

Following the verdict, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) clarified that “whoever was handed down punishment was ineligible to contest the elections.” Huda Ali Gohar, a spokesperson of the provincial Election Commission said, “The disqualification of any candidate does not affect the electoral process. New ballot papers will be printed after removing Maryam Nawaz’s name.” She also made it clear that no new nomination papers would be accepted from any candidate.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (Punjab) Zafar Iqbal said a candidate could be declared ineligible even after the issuance of the final list. “The ECP will consider the convicted candidate ineligible and would issue new ballot papers,” he added.

On the other hand, the accountability court verdict disappointed workers of the PML-N and they were seen leaving party offices set up in NA-127. While the PML-N election offices, following the verdict, wore a deserted look, a large number of workers gathered at PML-N central campaign office where PML-N President and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed an emergency press conference for the future line of action.