Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf, textile industrialist and grandson of Sir Abdul Qadir, on Thursday procured nomination papers as covering candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Quaid Mohammad Nawaz Sharif from NA-123, Lahore. Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf is going to file nomination papers for NA-123 Lahore on Friday.
Talking to Business Recorder, Ahsan Ashraf said that Nawaz Sharif was contesting the bye-polls from NA-123, Lahore and he was just filing nomination paper as covering candidate. However, he said if Nawaz Sharif decided to withdraw, he would be the party candidate.
Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf, who is heading S.M. Shahzeb Group of Companies, said that the country as well as countrymen was facing manifold challenges for which joint efforts were needed to steer the country out of prevailing crises. About his political objectives, he said that he and his family believed in rendering selfless services to the country and its people.
He said that he had great regard for Nawaz Sharif and Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, who were making dedicated efforts in the larger interest of the country. He said the PML-N was hope for the countrymen as the party was struggling for a strong, sovereign and prosperous Pakistan.
It may be mentioned that the Election Commission of Pakistan had announced to hold bye-elections in Punjab on two National Assembly Constituencies-NA-55 Rawalpindi, NA-123 Lahore and two seats of the Punjab Assembly-PP-82 in Jhang and PP-284 Bahawalpur.
As per schedule, the last date for filing nomination papers is October 3. The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on October 5 and 7, while the final list of the candidates will be published on October 18. The bye-polls will be held on November 7.
Political analysts were of the view that appearing of Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf as covering candidate of the PML-N Quaid indicates that Nawaz Sharif seems hesitant in contesting upcoming bye-polls. Also, his avoidance further hints at that the present set-up is fragile and it may lead to any situation like the mid-term polls ahead, they argue.
It may be noted that former foreign minister and PML (Like-minded Group) leader Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri has also smelled a day earlier in his press conference a change in political set-up in the context of Kerry Lugar Bill, conditioning that the security forces of Pakistan are not materially and substantially subverting the political or judicial processes of Pakistan.
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