Musharraf fields woman candidate to ‘wrestle’ Nawaz

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

Musharraf fields woman candidate to ‘wrestle’ Nawaz

Imran Kazmi Published April 4, 2013

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Musharraf meets Begum Saira Bano, the APML candidate for NA-120. – Photo courtesy Facebook

In a bid to break Mian Nawaz Sharif’s vote bank, former military dictator Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf has fielded a woman candidate to run in the elections against him from Lahore.

Begum Saira Bano will be contesting against the PML-N chief from his Lahore constituency of NA-120.

The lady candidate is no ordinary woman but is the grand-daughter of famous subcontinent wrestler Gama Pehlwan, daughter of Bhola Pehlwan and wife of Jhara Pehlwan. Belonging to a dynasty of famous wrestlers, Bano is set to give Sharif a good run for his money in the May 11 polls.

On top of that, Bano is also the cousin of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) chief’s wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, also a grand daughter of Gama Pehlwan.

Sharif, through his nephew Hamza Shahbaz, had submitted his nomination papers to contest the polls from the said constituency last week.

Kushti (mud-wrestling) culture is fading away from Lahore, like from all other areas where it was considered the most popular sport. However, the three famous Pehlwans, mentioned above, have left such cherished memories in the minds of Lahoris, that having an affiliation with them would mean some moral support to say the least.

How much of this support will translate into votes is still to be seen. Nevertheless, it will be a good show adding more colour to the already much talked about general elections.

Imran Kazmi is a journalist working for Dawn.com

Pakistan

The writer is a Multimedia Content Producer at Dawn.com

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sraz45

Apr 03, 2013 07:46pm

Musharaf has the least chance of getting a single seat in the next election. His exit from Pakistan was a wrong political move, people do not trust him. Nawaz Sharif is a low level political, arrogant ill mannered.He should not be ever reelected. Leaves Imran Khan he is the man of the present, he has honed himself in the past 16 years, think of him and a new direction for Pakistan with its youth as the center piece.

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Asif Kashmiri

Apr 03, 2013 07:48pm

Great.

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Malik

Apr 03, 2013 07:56pm

Can she write her name? Yes? Great, she can be a politician!

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Muhammad Farooq

Apr 03, 2013 08:06pm

wow, we are in for some fun now :)

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Sean

Apr 03, 2013 08:16pm

When Nawaz loses at least he'll have an excuse that he lost to a Pehlwan!! lol

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Mashman

Apr 03, 2013 08:16pm

Let the games begin

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PakFan

Apr 03, 2013 08:20pm

Pehelwaan Pakistan ki Assemblies mai raj kar rehay hain or qoom ko dooron par nacha rehay hain - no wonder Pakistan ka ye hal hai.

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Nouman

Apr 03, 2013 08:31pm

Nawaz and Musharraf have another opponent in the constituency named PTI. I think Musharraf should not waste his famous candidates in contesting against readily heated seats, he rather should try to grab seats by putting his team at places where others have weak runnings.

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excalibur

Apr 03, 2013 09:02pm

The picture says all about the sinister agenda of the so called lifafa journalist

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marghoob ahmed siddiqui

Apr 03, 2013 09:06pm

I wish and pray GOD that he is defeated by her. It will be a day of pride and joy for nation.

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jd shami

Apr 03, 2013 09:41pm

This no good commando-dictator is still roaming in Pakistan, very strange, someone should get him.

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Mustafa

Apr 03, 2013 09:44pm

Can the commando himself contest election against Nawaz Shareef without his uniform? This will give Mush an idea of how people 'love' him.

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rashid

Apr 03, 2013 10:08pm

former president not former military dictator whats wrong with dawn?.. once a president always a president.

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NA-32

Apr 03, 2013 10:21pm

Dear Brother, There are some decent & loyal people living in a place called CHITRAL,Insha Allah from NA-32 Pervez Musharraf will win the National Assembly seat.We the people of Chitral have not forgot the time when Pakistan was on a progress..

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Fazal Karim

Apr 03, 2013 10:46pm

Musharraf saheb should have restored true democracy in 2007 when his popularity was at peak and there after should have formed a new secular political party. I am shure he had good chance of winning in 2008 election. He has all the qualities of leadership. although late but he can come back to lead the country through democratically elected government but in the next general election. Until then he will have to strugle hard and will have to go through tortures. Ultimately people of Pakistan will realise his leadership qualities. For countries sake he will have to choose path which was adopted by our earlier freedom fighters.

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Omer

Apr 03, 2013 11:03pm

can nawaz do the same in his home town karachi

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Pakistani

Apr 03, 2013 11:30pm

Nawaz pehlwan or Musharaf Pehlwan is not to blame. People just love them & they are ready to vote them again. No wonder why we don't have electricity at night & a decent job in the day.

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jd shami

Apr 03, 2013 11:40pm

Keep wishing, nothing wrong with it. Ur prayers will also be useless, pray for u and ur family.

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asim

Apr 03, 2013 11:46pm

You can not change the color. He was a dictator and never been an elected president. don't try to twist the facts and history. Still that generation is alive who has witnessed the breaking through dark night.

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asim

Apr 03, 2013 11:48pm

It is not required. Thumb print is enough.

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Cyrus Howell

Apr 03, 2013 11:49pm

Nawaz Sharif would be a better politician if he would learn how to smile.

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Mashooq Ali, Chitral, Pakistan

Apr 03, 2013 11:58pm

Musharraf is a dignified person and forced foreign countries to respect Pakistan not like Nawaz Sharif Paggarh wala and criminal and killer of Benazir corrupt Asif Zardai.When we compare Musharraf with our filthy political leaders, we are comparing grape versus watermelon. Leave them apart.

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Nasr

Apr 04, 2013 12:07am

Insha Allah. We will get rid of the already tested (N) Sharif and his Group

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Nasr

Apr 04, 2013 12:09am

Start spreading the word. You are the well educated in sub urban area so spread the word.

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Sarfaraz Shah

Apr 04, 2013 12:25am

You are absolutely right, my dear brother from Chitral. Similarly, there are some loyal people living in Karachi. And Karachi is where President Musharraf will win NA-250, INSHALLAH! As for the other friends who have forgotten the excellent economic performance under President Musharraf's time, what can one say? If you have a non-functional memory, please review the difference between '99 and 2008 in KSE levels, forex reserve numbers, GDP growth, dollar-Rs. ratio or pretty much any other metric. Every law abiding Pakistani benefited from President Musharraf's time, when highways were built in Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and KPK. When Islamabad was beautified with new roads, model villages, parks, new museums and much more. When we walked proudly as Pakistanis. When our President's visit to New York was covered in a positive way by all the major international channels and he was given respect. When we were not ashamed of having our brave President represent us and defend our stance in any international forum. When investments were flowing into Pakistan and there was a construction boom all over the country. It is only the fair, correct, loyal and dignified thing to remember all this. For those who are blind to the facts, I suppose the urdu saying, "Jis thaali mein khaya, us hee mein chaid?" fits very well.

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Shahpur

Apr 04, 2013 12:33am

I hope this election bring peace and hope for a better tomorrow.

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Syed Ahmed

Apr 04, 2013 12:35am

Let's see the results of the bout.

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Malick

Apr 04, 2013 12:38am

Bhutto sb k baad agar koi insan Pakistan k ander bhadur aour gharet mund hai to wo general Musharraf hai jo artical 6 aour phansi k phundey sey darta nahain, kum uz kum Nwaz sey bhadur hai jo bhag gyia thha.

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Adnan

Apr 04, 2013 12:41am

Rashid, Ever heard about cause and effect? General Musharraf seized power by dismissing an elected government. This is what a military dictator does, not a President. He later imposed himself as the President. Once a military dictator, always a military dictator:)

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saminahmed

Apr 04, 2013 01:03am

what a good choice! women should vote for her. she will enhance women's interest.

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mystical

Apr 04, 2013 01:48am

go get hm than why are u waiting than

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Yang

Apr 04, 2013 01:50am

Oh ballaly ballay.........pahtay chak didtey Mushy

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Ibrahim

Apr 04, 2013 02:08am

General (Retd) Musharraf, was Pakistan's most successful president, after President Ayub. He deserves another chance. The need of the hour, is an honorable leader, with nerves of steel.

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JAVAID KHAN

Apr 04, 2013 04:15am

Only a person with no VISION would vote for ZARDARI,MUSHARRAF or NAWAZ.Imran Khan is the automatic choice for all honest Pakistanis.

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Shah

Apr 04, 2013 04:19am

Mr NA-32. Wish I could give you a 1000 likes for that comment ;)

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Shah

Apr 04, 2013 04:21am

Would love to see him in power again. Really hope and pray he wins.

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Catchapalooza

Apr 04, 2013 06:09am

Oh I forgot to add... what have yours truly Zardari and Nawaz being doing all this time? Nothing but planning to rip off the country on every chance they get. There are only two honest leaders in the country at the moment, and those are PM and IK. Open your eyes now before it's too late for Pakistanis and Pakistan.

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Pramod

Apr 04, 2013 06:26am

Need good leaders, not their family reputation. Musharaf snatched away power and has the audacity to claim he did nothing wrong. Nawaz sharif is the only leader who can handle left wing to right wing ends of the population. As business man has the ability to think in economic terms too.

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Naseem

Apr 04, 2013 06:31am

A clever move by PM!

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Umair Ahmad

Apr 04, 2013 06:32am

I think Mush and Nawaz both are dictators and enemy to each other, equally bad to our nation. So no matter who wins

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MBA

Apr 04, 2013 06:58am

Unfortunately we do not have favorite Pehlwans in this Kushti. As a matter of fact, we don

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Ayub

Apr 04, 2013 07:07am

Let us be entertaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiined.

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Apr 04, 2013 07:10am

haha good one!!

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Block

Apr 04, 2013 08:58am

You deserve Zardari.

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Julie C

Apr 04, 2013 09:16am

Sorry but Musharraf's past and present tactics show that he is a megalomaniac; out of touch with reality.

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Ijaz

Apr 04, 2013 09:24am

Some people say, "Imran is an automatic choice" when compared to others. If this is the criteria then there are a lot of other choices as well, so let "You" and "Me" also contest :)

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Iqbal

Apr 04, 2013 09:44am

that elected government refused to allow his plane land... if you are stopping your own Army Chief from landing in his own country, are you an elected govt?

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muhammad

Apr 04, 2013 09:45am

Well said

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muhammad

Apr 04, 2013 09:50am

Parliament of that time accepted him as a President why you are so furious as regards the generation who saw his tenure are still remembering his achievements anybody who has simplest of sense can compare today's government and his rule, which was far better

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muhammad

Apr 04, 2013 09:55am

As soon as Musharraf landed in Pakistan why lion stopped roaring ?

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Apr 04, 2013 10:04am

mushi is best for pakistan

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muzammil ullah khan

Apr 04, 2013 10:11am

very interesting indeed !!

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S Bara

Apr 04, 2013 12:56pm

Is there going to be some Kushti match?.

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raika45

Apr 04, 2013 01:09pm

If I am not mistaken Gama Phalwan was a world renowned wrestler who was a world champion.? I am not talking of this present time "staged wrestling" mania you see on TV. I am talking of real wrestling.Can anyone give some insight on this great man?

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gangadin

Apr 04, 2013 03:23pm

Is she a wrestler too?

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Edwardian

Apr 04, 2013 07:16pm

What would happen to Atiqa Odhu?

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ozman

Apr 04, 2013 07:59pm

If you ask me?. Musharaf and Imran should find a common ground and form coallition. I know it is not posible but that would be the best think for the country. Togather they can do a great job.

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ozman

Apr 04, 2013 08:08pm

Musharaff is not perfact, but the country was in much better shape five years ago then now.

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Adnan A

Apr 05, 2013 01:11am

Then run in the poles...no one is stopping you.

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Adnan A

Apr 05, 2013 01:11am

Exactly right!

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Sonia K

Apr 05, 2013 05:33am

If sports were anything to account for- then the lady might stand a chance to gain from the line of names- but this might not just materialize- a 'fading' sport is not what PM wants to bet on- it must be the lady's own mettle!!!

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M. Alvi

Apr 05, 2013 06:35am

That is not a nice joke for a lady.

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M. Alvi

Apr 05, 2013 06:49am

Actually, he is the only one who is realistic about Pakistan.

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Imran Malik

Apr 05, 2013 09:53am

ok :)

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shahid khan

Apr 05, 2013 10:40am

Former dictator or former president

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Razi

Apr 05, 2013 02:45pm

Dictator.............

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pathanoo

Apr 05, 2013 05:12pm

She would definitely be better than Nawaz Sharif in that she can not be that corrupt. And, I don't even know any thing about the lady. All I know is how corrupt and venal Nawaz Sharif is. One more thing, I don'r have a dog in this fight. All I wish is peace and Good Luck to Pakistani people who deserve lot better than people like Nawaz Sharif and Zardaris. SAD COMMENTARY ON THE FATE OF PAKISTAN.

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