As Pakistan gears up for the upcoming general elections on February 8, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has officially announced its list of candidates for National Assembly seats.
The party, which commenced its election campaign earlier this week, disclosed that it will contest on 212 National Assembly constituencies across the country. Notably, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is set to participate in the polls from NA-15 (Mansehra) and NA-130 (Lahore) constituencies.
Key figures within the party, including Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, who will contest from NA-119, and Hamza Shehbaz, who is entering the fray in NA-118 Lahore, have been strategically positioned. Party President Shehbaz Sharif will be seeking election from NA-123 and NA-132.
However, the PML-N has chosen not to field candidates in 51 National Assembly seats. The constituencies where PML-N is not contesting include NA-4 (Swat-III), NA-19 to NA-22 (Swabi), NA-44 and NA-45 (Dera Ismail Khan), NA-48 and NA-54 (Islamabad), NA-64 (Gujrat-III), NA-88 (Khushab-II), NA-92 (Bhakkar-II), NA-117 (Lahore-I), NA-128 (Lahore-XII), NA-143 (Sahiwal-III), NA-149 (Multan-II), and others.
The decision to abstain from certain constituencies is attributed to seat adjustment agreements, particularly with Jahangir Tareen’s Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), comprising politicians who parted ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
PML-N’s bid to strengthen its position in the elections involves navigating seat adjustment talks with various political parties. Party leader Shehbaz Sharif, expressing confidence in securing sufficient seats, envisions his elder brother Nawaz Sharif as the potential prime minister for a record fourth time.
The return of Nawaz Sharif after almost four years of exile is seen as a significant boost for the PML-N, aiming to rebound from its performance during the 16-month tenure of the coalition government led by Shehbaz Sharif.
