With the first phase of by-elections for three vacant National Assembly and two provincial assembly seats has gone off, political activities in Punjab are gaining momentum as different political parties including Jamat-e-Islami, JUP, PML-Q and PPP started looking for suitable candidates to filed on the vacant seats and canvassing to secure the support of other parties in the elections.
On Friday Hafiz Salman Butt of Jamat-e-Islami obtained nomination paper from local Election Commission office for contesting election from NA-123 Lahore. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is contesting, to secure his berth in Lower House of the parliament after remaining out for over nine years from National Assembly, from the same constituency. So far 13 candidates have obtained nomination papers for NA-123 seat. The last date for receiving the nomination papers is September 30.
Jamaat-i-Islami is looking for the co-operation of other parties for its candidates in the by-elections from NA-123 Lahore and 55 Rawalpindi. Though PPP had earlier announced not to field its candidate against Nawaz Sharif, but on Friday PPP Punjab decided to contest by-elections in Punjab and also invited applications from aspirants of party ticket.
Jamaat leaders including Liaquat Baloch and Farid Paracha met PML-Q leaders in a bid to seek their support for the Jamaat candidate in the by-polls. Apart from Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, JUP, PML-Q intend to field their candidates against Nawaz Sharif. On the other hand, PML-N has not so far formally started election campaign for the by-elections.
It may be mentioned that the Election Commission of Pakistan had announced to hold bye-elections on three National Assembly seats: NA-55 Rawalpindi, NA-123 Lahore and NA-271 Kharan and two seats of Punjab Assembly-PP-82 in Jhang and PP-284 Bahawalpur. Analysts says that there will be interesting contest on NA-55 Rawalpindi from where former federal minister and chief of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is vying.