While Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders are urging voters to choose their party’s ‘lion’ symbol in tomorrow’s general elections to combat issues like soaring inflation, ironically, they themselves won’t be able to cast their votes for their party’s candidate in the National Assembly (NA) seat.
Reportedly, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and Hamza Shehbaz are registered to vote in NA-128, where PML-N has a seat adjustment arrangement with Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP), backing Aun Chaudhry, whose symbol is the “eagle.”
However, the three PML-N leaders will instead vote for their party’s candidate, Umar Sohail, in PP-161.
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According to a list shared by senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar, the party is fielding candidates in 212 NA constituencies across the country on February 8, leaving 51 NA seats open for rivals or allies.
Nawaz Sharif is contesting polls in NA-15 (Mansehra) and NA-130 (Lahore), while PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz is running in NA-119, and Hamza Shehbaz in NA-118 Lahore. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif is participating in the election from NA-123 and NA-132.
However, there are several constituencies where PML-N has opted not to field candidates, including NA-4 (Swat-III), NA-19 to NA-22 (Swabi-I and II, Mardan-I and III), NA-44 to NA-48 (Dera Ismail Khan-I and II, Islamabad-III), NA-54 (Islamabad-III), NA-64 (Gujrat-III), NA-88 (Khushab-II), NA-92 (Bhakkar-II), NA-117 and NA-128 (Lahore-I and XII), NA-143 (Sahiwal-III), and NA-149 (Multan-II), among others.
Furthermore, PML-N candidates are not contesting in NA-165, NA-185, NA-190 to NA-204, NA-206 to NA-210, NA-212, NA-214 to NA-218, NA-221, NA-223 to NA-224, NA-228, NA-239, NA-245, NA-264, and NA-266.
In efforts to fortify its position in the province before the elections, PML-N had forged a seat adjustment agreement with Jahangir Tareen’s IPP.
