RAWALPINDI: Hanif Abbasi, Malik Shakeel Awan, Chaudhry Tanveer’s sons and brother are among the 179 ticket aspirants for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vying for the provincial and National Assembly seats in the upcoming February 8 elections.

Theparty leadership had formed a divisional committee comprising former senator Pervaiz Rasheed, divisional president Malik Abrar, divisional secretary general Sohail Lal, former MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, divisional coordinator, district presidents and secretaries general. The committee is currently interviewing the candidates.

Interviews of candidates from the five tehsils of Rawalpindi district are scheduled for Wednesday (today) whereas those aspiring from Jhelum and Chakwal were interviewed on Tuesday.

As many as 179 candidates have applied for the party ticket in four districts of Rawalpindi Division. The PML-N has fixed Rs100,000 fee for the provincial assembly and Rs200,000 for National Assembly seats.

Fee for provincial assembly seat set at Rs100,000, Rs200,000 for NA constituency

A senior party leader told Dawn that Hanif Abbasi, Malik Shakeel Awan, Sajjad Khan, Nasir Butt andDaniyal Chaudhry, son of former senator Chaudhry Tanveer,had applied for the two National Assembly seats in Rawalpindi city.

He said for the first time, two sons and a brother of Chaudhry Tanveer had applied for national and provincial assembly seats.

According to the party leader, only two questions were asked from the candidates during the interview, “what is your priority if you are not awarded the party ticket and who do you think would be a strong candidate after you”.

He said more than 12 candidates each had applied for PP-12 and PP-14 constituencies.

The party leader was of the view that ticket should be awarded to those who had worked hard in the last five years without getting any reward, adding that priority should be given to party workers instead of business and property tycoons as could be rewarded by giving them a Senate ticket.

Once the process of interviews is completed, the divisional committee will send its recommendations to provincial president Rana Sanaullah Khan who will then forward them to the election cell led by Senator Ishaq Dar for final approval.

Meanwhile, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb, in a statement, said the party’s election manifesto would prove to be comprehensive, feasible and solution to Pakistan’s problems as always.

She said the PML-N was giving special attention to the economic recovery, self-reliance and freeing people of inflation. “The party’s manifesto is in its final stage of preparation,” she added.

Ms Aurangzeb said the party not only made promises but according to our tradition and history, fulfilled them as well by achieving development goals.

She said the manifesto was being prepared in the light of suggestions of all sections and experts.

“Recommendations are being made on the supremacy of the Constitution, reforms for the rule of law, improvement in administrative affairs and good governance. Reforming the justice system is the primary goal to ensure citizens’ rights and provide cheap and prompt justice,” she said.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2023