The PPP stalwart Aitezaz Ahsan on Monday hinted at the replacement of Kalsoom Nawaz with Shahbaz Sharif for the by elections of NA-120. He said that PML-N has withdrawn Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif from contesting NA-120 by-polls and he will be replaced by the spouse of Nawaz Sharif, Kalsoom Nawaz.
However, he did not utter a single word about the candidate of PPP for the elections. Already, the party has witnessed a difference of opinion on the name of Zubair Kardar which was launched by PPP Lahore President Aziz-ur-Rehman Chan which was opposed by the PPP Punjab leadership. Eventually, the central command of the party took the issue in its own hands and asked the interested candidates to file their applications with the central secretariat. There were reports that PPP Punjab president Qamar Zaman Kaira or Aitezaz Ahsan might be fielded by the party in NA-120.
Meanwhile, no official announcement was made by the PML-N in this regard and Shahbaz Sharif is still the candidate for the by-polls. Party sources said the party has sufficient time to take a final decision as the last date for filing of nomination papers is August 12 which can be withdrawn until August 18. They said chances of filing more than one nomination papers are high which may also include the papers of Shahbaz Sharif.
Meanwhile, the political temperature in NA-120 shot up as the voters and supports of both the PML-N and PTI are canvassing for their respective parties forcefully. The PTI has announced Dr Yasmin Rashid as party's candidate for the constituency. She has launched her campaign along with party workers. At some point, the workers of PML-N and PTI had confronted each other and raised slogans in favour of their respective parties. However, the elders from both sides intervened and controlled the situation.