ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) yesterday started consultations on its presidential candidate with focus on candidates from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for the office of president.
The Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) announcement that elections for president would be held on August 6 has triggered consultations in the PML-N, sources in the party said.
According to sources, focus of the party is mainly on candidates from Sindh and KP because the party wants to give this office to smaller provinces after Nawaz Shairf was elected prime minister from Punjab.
The names of Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister on national security, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, secretary general of PML-N and Mehtab Khan Abbasi, a stalwart of the party, are being considered for this office from KP.
Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto and Justice (r) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui are being considered from Sindh. Sources said that the party has not yet found any big name from Balochistan from its own ranks to consider it for the president’s office.
However, a candidate who has the broader support in Balochistan cannot be ruled out for the presidential election, sources added.
They said that Sartaj Azia and Ghaus Ali Shah are favourites candidates for the elections.
Sources said that some party leaders wanted Mumtaz Bhutto to be its presidential candidate in order to give tough time to the PPP in Sindh where it still holds the sway.
However, a major part of the party does not want any confrontation with PPP at a time when the country is already facing enormous issues.
“The PPP will also react strongly to Mumtaz Bhutto’s nomination for the office of president and it will withdraw its support for the government on various issues on which government is bound constitutionally to consult the opposition party,”sources said.
They said that decision to finalise a candidate for the presidential elections could stretch to the last day of filing of nomination papers on July 24.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Board of PML-N held a discussion on party candidates for upcoming by-elections of the National and provincial assemblies.
The board met in Islamabad with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair.
Internews
