PML-N expected to finalise polls candidates by Monday

• PML-N completes work on over 70% constituencies to choose candidates.
• Party's parliamentary board conducts 10 meetings to finalise names.
• PPP, other parties to issue list of candidates mid-next week.

ISLAMABAD: After the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule for general polls, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is expected to finalise the list of all its candidates next week for the upcoming polls, The News reported on Saturday.

So far, no political party has announced its list of candidates for the polls — slated to take place on February 8, 2024. 

According to well-placed sources, the PML-N has concluded its work on more than 70% of constituencies for choosing candidates; therefore, its list of the first batch of ticket-holders may be made public tomorrow (Sunday).

The party's parliamentary board conducted 10 meetings to finalise candidate names from various areas and is expected to complete the task on Monday (December 18).

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and regional parties will issue the list of their candidates mid-next week. They are engaged in seat adjustment with other parties while the fate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is still hanging in the balance as the ECP gives its verdict on its intra-party elections on Monday.

It has been indicated that two former prime ministers belonging to the PML-N — Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif — would contest polls from Lahore. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who hails from Murree but was elected from Lahore last time, has opted to not contest the upcoming elections.

The two ex-PMs from the PPP, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, will be contesting from Multan and Gujar Khan respectively.

PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz will be contesting from Lahore and Karachi, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be a candidate from Karachi and Larkana. Former President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari would try his luck from Nawabshah.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman would contest from Dera Ismail Khan. Jamat e Islami Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq would contest polls from Peshawar.

Polls schedule announced

Following the Supreme Court’s order, the electoral body on Friday night issued the much-awaited schedule for the general polls, set to take place on February 8, 2024.

The polling process begins four days from today ie, December 19, when the returning officer (RO) will issue a public notice, while the ECP also resumes the training for the ROs and district returning officers (DROs).

The election programme also applies to the reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the national and four provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.

The commission issued the election schedule late at night in line with the Supreme Court's orders.