Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif is set to play a political game on front foot and lead a political battle against President Pervez Musharraf in the National Assembly. Sharif had earlier decided not to contest the by-polls but after the London talks failed he finally decided to play a role in the parliamentary politics by leading from the front.
Nawaz has filed nomination papers for NA-52 Rawalpindi and NA-123 Lahore. Political analysts say Sharif has played a big political game by suddenly announcing to contest the by-polls. Future of alliance between the PML-N and the PPP depends on election of Nawaz Sharif, they opined.
He had already announced that it is the prerogative of the PPP to decide whether to go with us or not. He said, "We will never be part of any conspiracy against democracy and the democratic government." The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has already announced that it will not field its candidates against Nawaz Sharif and other PML-N leaders in the upcoming by-polls. "The PPP will continue maintaining the reconciliation culture and strengthening the democracy in the country as it has been restored after a long struggle," a senior PPP leader said.
It may be mentioned that for the February 18 polls Nawaz had filed nomination papers for NA-121 but his papers were rejected by the returning officer following objections raised by the PML-Q candidate Khawaja Tahir Zia and others. Nawaz had not filed any appeal against the rejection of his papers arguing that he did not accept PCO judges.
On Tuesday, Nawaz Sharif filed his nomination papers to contest by-elections from NA-123 Lahore before Chaudhry Badar-ud-Din, the Returning Officer for the constituency NA-123 Lahore.
PML-N leaders, members of National and Provincial Assemblies and Provincial Ministers Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Kamran Michael were also present on the occasion. A large number of the PML-N workers also reached the office of the returning officer and shouted full-throated slogans in favour of their leader. Nawaz left the venue without talking with mediamen present on the scene.
PML-N leaders Hamza Shahbaz and captain Safdar (retired) also filed nomination papers for NA-123 as covering candidates. Party sources said Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday filed his nomination papers to contest the by-election from PP-48, Bhakkar-II. Shahbaz filed his papers with Senior Civil Judge and Returning Officer Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqoob.
The sources claimed that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday phoned Nawaz Sharif after his party ministers resigned from the cabinet over the issue of judges' restoration. The sources also claimed that Sharif had assured the premier of his party's continued support to the government.
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