The political landscape in Punjab witnessed a significant upheaval as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) made a swift decision to change its nominee for the post of Punjab chief minister following a series of events involving the attempted arrest of its earlier nominee, Mian Aslam Iqbal.

The PTI leadership, led by founding chairman Imran Khan, initially nominated Mian Aslam Iqbal for the position. However, amidst reports of a police attempt to arrest him, the party decided to alter its plan. In consultation with Mian Aslam, the PTI named Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan as its new candidate for the coveted role.

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Mian Aslam Iqbal, who had been granted protective bail by the Peshawar High Court in connection with multiple cases related to last year’s riots, managed to evade arrest by disguising himself in lawyers’ attire and seeking refuge at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Speaker’s House.

The PTI’s decision to nominate Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan, a five-time Punjab Assembly member and the youngest legislator in the provincial legislature, reflects a strategic move to maintain stability amid the political turmoil.

PTI secretary general Hammad Azhar highlighted the party’s support base in the Punjab Assembly, asserting that they had the backing of 212 members compared to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) 40 members.

In response, PML-N central spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb criticized the PTI’s decision, accusing them of inconsistency and labeling the change in the nominee as a “U-turn.” She emphasized that the PML-N’s nominee, Maryam Nawaz, would focus on outlining development plans and measures for the upliftment of women in the province.

The shifting dynamics in Punjab’s political landscape underscore the ongoing power struggles and tensions between major political parties in the region.