LAHORE: The PML-N has shifted the candidature of its Lahore chapter president Pervaiz Malik to NA-133 from NA-125 and the party has also persuaded former minister Bilal Yasin, a relative of Kalsoom Nawaz, to withdraw his nomination papers for NA-125 and contest for a provincial seat.

“The leadership managed to persuade Mr Yasin to contest for PP-150 that falls under NA-125, and issued a party ticket to him on Friday,” a PML-N leader told Dawn.

After Maryam Nawaz was issued ticket for NA-127, instead of NA-125, Mr Malik, who convincingly won this seat (NA-127) in the 2013 general election, was reluctant to walk in NA-125, says the insider. The NA-125 (previously NA-120) constituency remained a family seat of the Sharifs.

Mr Yasin, however, was keen for NA-125 ticket after Maryam shifted to NA-127. However, the leadership went for Mr Malik, the reluctant candidate.

“Like Ms Maryam, Mr Malik also considered NA-125 a relatively tough constituency and requested the leadership either to award him ticket for NA-133 or NA-123,” he said, adding that since Mr Malik had been tasked with running campaign for Maryam in NA-127, the leadership had to entertain his request. PML-N’s Waheed Alam Khan, who has no clout in the party and only has backing of Hamza Shahbaz, was easy to be ‘directed’ to move from NA-133 to NA-125 as compared to other candidates. Waheed had already launched his campaign in NA-133. Now he will have to spend afresh in NA-125. PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid is PTI candidate on this constituency.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2018