PML-N's troubles continue as 7 candidates in south Punjab return party tickets

In another setback for the PML-Nawaz, seven of the party's ticket-holders from south Punjab on Saturday announced that they would be contesting as independent candidates.

Four of the seven candidates belong to the Rajanpur 'electables' group under former provincial deputy speaker Sher Ali Gorchani, who is a candidate for NA-193 and PP-293. Besides Sher Ali, his father Pervez Gorchani (PP-295), Ather Gorchani (PP-294) and Yousuf Khan Dareshak (PP-296) have returned their tickets to the party. Yousuf Khan's brother, Dr Hafeez Dareshak, has also returned his NA-194 PML-N ticket.

All lawmakers have now been allotted the 'jeep' symbol to contest the general elections as independent candidates.

Former PML-N MPA Atif Mazari and his nephew Khizar Mazari will continue to contest on the PML-N ticket from PP-297 and NA-195, respectively.

Sultan Mehmood Hanjra, PML-N ticket-holder from NA-181 (Muzaffargarh) also announced that he would contest as an independent candidate, requesting the 'jeep' symbol to be allotted to him. Hanjra is contesting against former Punjab governor Ghulam Mustufa Khar, who has Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) ticket.

Hanjra's nephews — Ahmed Yar (PP-279) and Qasim (PP-268) — will, however, continue to contest as PML-N candidates.

A similar situation was observed in Dera Ghazi Khan, where Shamoona Mir Badshah Qaisrani withdrew her PML-N ticket from PP-285 while Amjad Farooq Khosa also announced to contest as an independent candidate from NA-190.

Qaisrani was awarded the 'mobile phone' symbol for PP-285 but will contest the NA-189 election against PTI strongman Khawaja Sheraz on PML-N symbol since was not allowed to withdraw the ticket because the deadline for ticket allotment had ended by the time she submitted her request.

Meanwhile, Amjad Farooq was awarded the 'bucket' symbol and will contest against PTI's Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa.

Former federal minister Awais Leghari and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif are contesting on the remaining two National Assembly seats in the district.

Earlier, PML-N dissident and former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar was also allotted the 'jeep' symbol on his own request in all four constituencies of Rawalpindi district — NA-59, NA-63, PP-10 and PP-12 — that he is contesting from.

Additional reporting by Tahir Naseer.

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Awan Sahib

Jun 30, 2018 04:32pm

All of these were Supporting Musharraf in the past. On one hand Nawaz Sharif chants 'vote ko izzat do' and on the other hand he selects those for party tickets who have a checkered past. Nawaz is reaping what he sowed. Nawaz Sharif always deny any tickets to lowermiddle class and distribute them among the powerful. I. not a member of PTI but i have no sympathies for double-standards of PMLN either.

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Nabeel

Jun 30, 2018 04:40pm

PML-N will not win more than 60 seats from Punjab this time.

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Citizen

Jun 30, 2018 04:42pm

Make and break game

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Azmeen

Jun 30, 2018 05:11pm

As expected. Now they are serving their new master.

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Zahid

Jun 30, 2018 05:30pm

Ironically , this move reflects loyalty of chaudary Nisar with PNL(N).

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Hadi

Jun 30, 2018 06:20pm

Artificial elections leading to a custom made government - short term genius, medium to long term blunder. Short term is all these geniuses concern themselves with.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 30, 2018 06:39pm

It's better to stay-away from party interventions, middlings and troubles by contesting elections as an independent candidate, if you have a well-structured electioneering set-up and operations comprising of a team of well-balanced, loyal, dedicated and faithful set of followers, fans, friends, supporters, sponsors and backers, who can eventually help you win the elections.

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Saif Zulfiqar

Jun 30, 2018 07:21pm

Besides the looting of government treasury by the Shariffs family, the big mouths of Shariffs children have also destroyed the chances of PML(N) to win this or any other future elections.

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Aamir

Jun 30, 2018 07:31pm

So Jeep symbol is the real game.

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BhaRAT

Jun 30, 2018 07:32pm

Pakistanis from South Punjab want a separate province because Sharif family and PMLN are only concerned about Lahore and spending all the money there meanwhile rest of Punjab is being neglected especially South Punjab kudos to these party workers they know only Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi THE GREAT can solve their problem

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sughra

Jun 30, 2018 08:57pm

Who cares?

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Rino

Jun 30, 2018 09:34pm

All of these are opportunists. They will go to whoever is in power.

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Wazir

Jun 30, 2018 09:41pm

Good

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Sheryaar

Jun 30, 2018 10:05pm

@Nabeel not even 40...60 is too much

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Biased JUSTICE

Jun 30, 2018 10:36pm

Military establishment at work.

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Harmony-1©

Jun 30, 2018 11:04pm

@Nabeel - They will win even less than 60 seats.

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sughra

Jun 30, 2018 11:16pm

Nation is witnessing a much wanted downfall of Sharif's and company who have accumulated wealth more than their apparent sources of income and deprived the innocents (220 million minus Sharif & company) of the basic necessities of life for many years. Let’s get ready for celebration.

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Judge Dredd

Jul 01, 2018 01:40am

Rats fleeing a sinking ship quickly springs to mind. I guess this is the beginning of the end for the Sharif's and PML-N. Over three decades of loot and plunder was bound to catch up with them sooner than later.

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Dr Misbah

Jul 01, 2018 02:29am

The hidden hand forming a kings party. Coincidentally the symbol is Jeep

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Sughra

Jul 01, 2018 02:57am

When it rains, it pours. PMLN is disintegrating, its collapse is imminent.

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Shayan Raheel

Jul 03, 2018 03:55am

@Nabeel agreed