LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party is yet to finalize its candidate for the National Assembly seat (NA-120, Lahore-III) which fell vacant after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court, as the ruling PML-N as well as PTI have not only fielded their nominees but also commenced election campaign.

Central Punjab PPP leader Usman Malik says the party is going to invite applications from aspirants for the by-election within a couple of days.

Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with Punjab leadership will interview candidates before taking a final decision on the nomination, he adds.

In the meantime, Zubair Kardar, who had contested from the seat on the PPP ticket in the May 2013 general election, has started his election campaign to the confusion of party workers and media alike.

Lahore chapter president Azizur Rehman Chan also visited Mr Kardar’s residence in the constituency and spoke to a corner meeting there on Sunday.

The ruling PML-N has pitched Punjab Chief Minister and “would-be” prime minister Shahbaz Sharif from the seat.

Provincial Food Minister Bilal Yasin along with Orange Metro Train project chairman, ex-minister Ch Abdul Ghafoor and local PML-N leadership led a small rally here on Sunday which took a round of the constituency for electioneering purpose.

Mr Yasin disclosed that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would also visit the area next week when he would be free after installation of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as the prime minister.Similarly, PTI nominee Dr Yasmin Rashid also kicked off her election campaign a day after she was nominated by party Chairman Imran Khan.

Dr Rashid had earlier contested against Nawaz Sharif from the same seat in the last general election and secured 50,000 plus votes, giving tough time to then “prime minister in waiting”.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2017