Former Interior Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) disgruntled leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has announced that he will contest upcoming general election 2018 from three constituencies.
Talking to media persons after holding a meeting with a delegation comprising chairmen and vice-chairmen from 27 union councils (UCs) of NA-59 here on Monday, Nisar said that he would contest for one seat of the National Assembly, NA-59, Attock, and two provincial assembly constituencies including PP-10 and PP-14 of Rawalpindi. He also expressed his desire to contest the next election from NA-63 in Taxila.
The UC delegation appreciated Nisar's services and expressed confidence in his leadership. They said that a politician like Nisar is a pride for the people of Potohar region. Nisar thanked the local government representatives for their support, and said he would make a final decision after consultation with the party representatives of Wah and Taxila. The delegation vowed to support Nisar irrespective of the constituency chosen by him to contest the next elections.
There are intense speculations about the constituency which Nisar would select to contest the next election given his ongoing rift with the PML-N leadership.
This also gave rise to rumours that Nisar was likely to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as he was even invited by Chairman Imran Khan to join his party.
Earlier on April 19, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan had invited the PML-N stalwart to join his party. However, following a meeting with the PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on the same day, Nisar Ali had given a conditional nod to putting aside his reservations and differences with the ruling party, sources had said.
PML-N President and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has made several attempts to woo Nisar, who has reportedly said that PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif should visit him. After the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif by Supreme Court in Panama Papers case, the former interior minister and one of the close confidants of the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Nisar on many occasions urged party leadership to avoid confrontation with the state institutions. On which the former interior minister invited ire of the senior PML-N leadership including Maryum Nawaz Sharif and others.
Nisar has been quietly working on a plan to contest upcoming elections as an independent candidate. He also shared a survey conducted in his native constituency with his close friends, which suggested that at least 70 percent of the area voters want Nisar to contest the next elections as an independent candidate. The ruling party is also trying to replace some candidates in Ch Nisar's constituency but as yet it has not finalized any name and is in close consultation with local party leaders to find a suitable and strong candidate capable to defeat Nisar.