MANSEHRA: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (retd) Safdar has stated that party leader Nawaz Sharif will be running in the upcoming elections from Mansehra’s NA 15. This comes as political parties are intensifying their electioneering efforts.
Safdar, the spouse of PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, stated in a statement to the media on Wednesday that the former prime minister would file his nomination papers by Thursday, December 21, for the National Assembly seat “NA 15 Mansehra-cum-TorGhar.”
This is happening at the same time that nomination papers for prospective candidates planning to run in the polls on February 8, 2024, are starting to arrive at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
But in order for Nawaz to be eligible to run in the next elections, the lifetime ban on holding public office that was imposed upon him by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers Case must be lifted.
Earlier in the day, PML-N’s staunch rival Pakistan Tehreek-s-Insaf (PTI) announced that its incarcerated founder Imran Khan — disqualified by ECP in the Toshakhana case after being found guilty of corrupt practices — will contest the general elections from at least three constituencies.
Khan will run for office from the Lahore, Islamabad, and Mianwali constituencies, according to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, who made this announcement to the media outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
Announcements from both parties come as the ECP, acting on the apex court’s directions, announced the election schedule on December 15.
The news that the polls would be postponed was completely refuted by the development. The Lahore High Court’s decision to overturn the electoral body’s notification of returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) was suspended by the top court.
