PML-N asks ticket aspirants to submit nomination papers on Dec 20

• Exercise for review would be completed tomorrow: sources. 
• List of ticket holders to be made public after consultations. 
• PML-N also complies agenda based on its manifesto. 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has asked the party applicants, who are seeking the party's tickets to contest the upcoming general elections, to submit their nomination papers before their respective returning officers on December 20 (Wednesday), The News reported. 

The parliamentary board that is reviewing the process of assessing the situation of every constituency separately could not complete its work in the last three weeks due to the large number of candidates for each constituency on a tentative deadline.

Highly placed sources in the PML-N told The News that the exercise for review would be completed tomorrow (Tuesday). After two days of leadership discussions, the final list of the ticket holders for both the echelons of the assemblies would be announced on Thursday and the tickets would be awarded the same day.

The sources added that the applicants, who would have filed their nomination papers, would be asked to withdraw as they would be accommodated subsequently in other distinguished slots including Senate and offices to be filled by the executive if they are not given the ticket. 

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and President Shahbaz Sharif will make public the list of ticket holders after having consultations with other senior leaders.

The parliamentary board had its 12 marathon sessions for reviewing the constituencies, which were jointly chaired by the Sharif brothers. The recommendations of the board were compiled upon the conclusion of every sitting. 

The announcement about the ticket holders was withheld because seat adjustment and arrangements with like-minded parties had to be worked out, the sources said.

They further said the parties are keen to have an adjustment with the PML-N on a higher number of seats. The PML-N has made up its mind to make such adjustments comparatively at a higher scale in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh/Karachi and Balochistan. The party would be following a meticulous formula in the case of Punjab constituencies. It wouldn’t surpass seven to 10% of total seats in the province, viewed as a traditional stronghold of the PML-N, the sources said.

The party's election manifesto committee convenor Senator Professor Irfan Siddiqui, who has choreographed the initial draft of the manifesto, has travelled to Lahore. He will be submitting the same to Nawaz Sharif and it is likely that right after the announcement of the list of ticket holders, the manifesto will be made public. The 40-member manifesto committee has included the issues of public interest but it has been articulated on a realistic basis after mustering massive input from the masses and party workers, the sources added.

The sources said in the meanwhile, a nine-point agenda based on the manifesto has been compiled which would broadly become a source for highlighting the PML-N’s future planning after winning the polls.

Moreover, the election campaign will also revolve around the agenda which includes massive reforms in the judicial system and the provision of justice for the common man. In addition, it would ensure the curtailing of governmental and administrative expenditures. 

The income of the common man and national exchequer revenue would be increased, while the tax system would be reformed drastically. The steps for increasing exports would be taken on the fast track and without any delay. The tariff for information technology (IT), energy, electricity and gas would be slashed. The public sector organisations which are experiencing huge losses would undergo administrative scrutiny, the sources added.

The sources further said that under the nine-point agenda, the youth and women will be provided new income opportunities. The agriculture would be revolutionised through the use of sophisticated technology.

The sources pointed out that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) that was set up by the Shahbaz-led government would continue to work. It was a facility to act as a “single window” to facilitate investors, establish cooperation among all government departments, and fast-track project development.

Senator Siddiqui had discussed the agenda with Nawaz and Shehbaz, the sources added.