Javed Hashmi announces support for Kulsoom Nawaz in NA-120 by-election

MULTAN: Veteran politician Javed Hashmi announced on Tuesday his support for Kulsoom Nawaz, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate in the NA-120 by-election in Lahore. 

Addressing a press conference in Multan, Hashmi said Kulsoom has always supported him and even brought him back to the party.

Hashmi was a loyal member of the PML before he joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in December 2011. However, in October 2014, he quit the PTI after accusing it of conspiring against democracy. 

Predicting a resounding victory for Kulsoom, Hashmi said if Kulsoom gets 50,000 votes, PTI's Dr Yasmin Rashid would get 12-13,000. 

"Politics aside, she is my sister. It will be very difficult to defeat her [in the election]," said Hashmi, adding that even if you take out the government [influence], the constituency belongs to the PML-N. 

A tough contest is expected between Kulsoom and Yasmin on September 17. 

The seat fell vacant after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in the Panama Papers case.