HARIPUR, Dec 12: PML (N) chief and former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif will chair a meeting of the party’s central parliamentary board in Shataloo Sharif Sirikot, some 30 km from here, on Thursday.

PML (N) provincial president Pir Sabir Shah told Dawn on Wednesday that the central leadership would attend the meeting to discuss the current situation with special reference to the party’s decision of taking part in the election.

He said that the meeting would also finalise the names of party candidates from the NWFP and the rest of the country.

He said the former prime minister would be received at Jhari Kas at around 10am and would be taken to Shataloo Sharif Sirikot where he would stay for a night.

He said the party leader would formally start PML (N)’s election campaign in Hazara by addressing a public meeting in Ghazi on Friday.

Our Kohat Correspondent adds: Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif is likely to visit Kohat, Hangu and Karak on Jan 4 and 5.

Addressing a press conference, former PML (N) MNA from Kohat Javed Ibraheem Paracha said the former prime minister had called him for a meeting at the residence of ex-chief minister Pir Sabir Shah and discussed the matters pertaining to award of tickets, change of candidates and strategy for election campaign.

He said that a candidate of the Awami National Party from PF-38, Kohat, Pir Qasim Shah, had joined the PML (N) and he would be replaced by his nephew Ghayyas ud Din who would withdraw his papers in his favour.

He said that Nawaz Sharif had planned a two-day visit of the Kohat division to campaign for him as he was bedridden after a traffic accident last month.

“I have told Mian Nawaz Sharif that I cannot tour my constituency on wheelchair and want him to visit Kohat, Hangu and Karak for strengthening party position,” Mr Paracha said.