Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly shortlisted the name of self-exiled former finance minister Ishaq Dar for the upcoming Senate elections.
Local English daily quoting sources claimed that the PML-N’s parliamentary board has shortlisted the names of candidates during a meeting, headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday in Islamabad.
The sources said that the party was deliberating over fielding Ishaq Dar’s son Ali Dar as covering candidate due to possible legal challenges which former could face during scrutiny of nomination papers.
It is to mention that former finance minister has been declared absconder by an accountability court in Islamabad for not attending the hearings of corruption trial against him. He has been living in London for medical treatment for months. He is facing charges of possessing assets beyond known sources of income.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/ishaq-dar-declared-proclaimed-offender-in-corruption-case/
“Yes, Ishaq Dar’s name is on the list of the possible party ticket-holders for the Senate elections,” Raja Zafarul Haq, who is member of the body, told Dawn. He added that opinion was also sought from legal experts in this regard.
Currently, the PML-N has 27 seats in the Senate, while nine of the senators are set to retire on March 11. It is expected that PML-N will win 15 seats – 12 from Punjab, 2 from Islamabad and one from KP – to reach 33 in the Senate. The victory of PML-N in Balochistan is uncertain yet.
In 2015 senate elections, the PML-N failed to get driving seat despite winning largest number of seats as the PPP and opposition parties showed unity and remained key players.
According to the newspapers, prominent shortlisted PML-N candidates are Dr Asif Kirmani, Saud Majeed, Haroon Akhtar, Tehmina Daultana, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Tariq Fatemi, Kamran Michael, Pir Sabir Shah, Zafar Dhandla and Nuzhat Sadiq.
The PML-N is also considering to give one seat from Punjab to Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi or his nominee. Sialvi recently called off protest against Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on the Khatm-i-Nubuwat issue.
As per the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) schedule, the last date for submission of the nomination papers is February 8, while elections will be held on March 3.
