Thirty eight candidates from different political parties and independents on Saturday filed nomination papers for contesting by-polls from NA-123 (Lahore), pushing the total number of candidates, including PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, in the run to 61.
Prominent among those candidates who filed nomination papers for NA-123 include: Mohammad Pervaiz Malik, Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, Wahid Alam, Wahid Gul, Bashir Nizami, Haji Mohammad Ahmed, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, Mian Ahmed Meraj and cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz.
Jamaat-i-Islami was making efforts to get support for its candidate Hafiz Salman Butt from this constituency. However, Pakistan People's Party is yet to formally announce its candidate for this constituency. Although, PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif is still in the run from this constituency, there are rumours that Nawaz Sharif may stay away from the contest by withdrawing papers.
PML-N leaders Mohammad Pervaiz Malik and Khawaja Ahmed Hassan have also filed nomination papers from this constituency but sources in the PML-N claimed that Shahzada Ahsan Ashraf was a covering candidate of Nawaz Sharif as he had filed the papers on the instructions of party leadership. "Since Ahsan Ashraf is a resident of NA-123, therefore, he is considered the most suitable candidate in case Nawaz Sharif withdraws and PML-N nominates him as party candidate," Tanvir Ahmed, a voter from NA-123 said.
Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, while talking to Jamaat-i-Islami candidate from NA-123, Hafiz Salman Butt, said conditions were conducive for holding bye-elections in the province, however, the government was taking all possible measures to ensure security.
Taseer said election of public representatives was the fundamental right of the people and no democratic government could ignore that right. Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Zeb Jaffar said there was 100 percent chance of the success of PML-N nominees from NA-123 and NA-55, therefore, there was no truth in blaming the PML-N that it would flee from bye-elections. She said, "We will accept the verdict of the apex court. Whether bye-polls are held now or later on, PML-N nominees will surely win the elections."