Daily Times

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strategically opted to challenge the long-standing influence of the Sharif brothers in Lahore during the upcoming polls on February 8, as revealed by sources from Geo News on Friday. Bilawal has meticulously chosen to contest elections from the NA-128 constituency in Lahore, historically regarded as the political bastion of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The PML-N has consistently secured a majority of seats in the provincial capital over multiple past elections.

In a concerted effort, Bilawal is not alone in this endeavor, as political associates Hafiz Mohiuddin and Misbah-ur-Rehman are poised to file their nomination papers for provincial assembly seats within the same NA-128 constituency. The nomination papers are scheduled to be submitted on this very day (Friday), as December 22 marks the deadline for this crucial step in the electoral process. Despite the pleas for an extension of the deadline by several political parties, including the PML-N, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has not yet made a decisive ruling on the matter.

The NA-128 constituency is anticipated to witness a heated competition, with PML-N’s Mian Ahmed Subhan slated to challenge Bilawal for electoral supremacy. Notably, this electoral battleground is not limited to the clash between PPP and PML-N, as other political heavyweights, such as Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif, are expected to vie for political dominance in Punjab’s capital.

Adding to the electoral fervor, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has declared his intent to contest polls from three constituencies, including Lahore, intensifying the competition further. The much-anticipated general elections, scheduled for February 8, 2024, were set in motion following the issuance of the election schedule in adherence to the directive from the Supreme Court. As the political landscape evolves, the stage is set for a compelling and dynamic electoral showdown in Lahore’s NA-128 constituency and beyond.