Former Speaker of National Assembly Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has applied for the ticket of national assembly from NA-150 and 151, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi from NA-148 and Jehanian constituency, former law minister Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Awan also sought a ticket for NA-150.
The Pakistan People's Party has come forward as the first political party to short list its list of candidates for the national and provincial assemblies from Punjab.
The short listing was done in a recent meeting of the party's parliamentary board that continued for three days. The list has been sent to central leaders who will send it to party chairperson, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir will take the final decision after meeting the candidates in London later this month.
Many new people were also nominated in the list including sons of two senior party leaders - Rahman Chan, son of PPP Lahore president Haji Azizur Rahman Chan, will replace his father for member of the provincial assembly (MPA) and Omer Misbah, son of former PPP Lahore president Mian Misbahur Rahman will contest for the national assembly from his father's constituency.
National assembly constituencies: According to initial list, three candidates were short listed for NA-118, PPP Lahore information secretary Zakariya Butt, CA Qadir and Asif Hashmi. Butt preferred contesting for the provincial seat instead of the national assembly.
There was a tie between Altaf Hussain Qureshi and Sohail Malik for NA-119. Qureshi is likely to win due to his services for the party. Central secretary general Jahangir Badar was the only candidate from NA-120. PPP Punjab finance secretary Aurangzeb Burki was okayed for NA-121.
He had lost in the previous general elections. Omer Misbahur Rahman will contest from NA-22. Former PPP Lahore president Mian Misbah, a businessman, had earlier recommended his wife, MNA Yasmin Misbah, but later gave his son's name for the seat. Lahore president Haji Azizur Rahman Chan was the only candidate from NA-123, but the party is considering using the seat for other parties adjustment.
Senior PPP leader, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan was short-listed for NA-124. Former information secretary Naveed Chaudhry was the only candidate for NA-125.
He had lost in the 2002 elections to Federal Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar. Former Punjab chief secretary Javed Qureshi was the top runner for NA-126. Former governor Khawaja Tariq Rahim was short-listed for NA-127. His wife might be adjusted in another provincial constituency.
MPA Faiza Malik, daughter of Abida Malik, topped the list for NA-128 ahead of Amjad Jut, an ardent party worker. Newcomer Sardar Adil Omer and Colonel Rana Tariq (Retd), son-in-law of senior party leader Malik Mushtaq Awan were nominated for NA-128.
Rana Shaukat Mahmood and Tariq Mayo were short-listed for NA-129. Mahmood, being the more senior leader, is expected to get the final nod while Mayo may be adjusted in another constituency. For NA-130, sitting MNA Mrs Samina Gurkhi, wife of Wahga Town Nazim Khalid Gurkhi was short-listed.
Provincial secretary public relation Khawaja Rizwan Alam said that the central parliamentary board of the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians is meeting in London under the chairmanship of party chairperson Benazir Bhutto from July 11 to 30 to conclude processing of applications of party candidates for various national and provincial constituencies and it will also finalise candidates for the upcoming general elections till July 30.
He said that first of all, the applications for the constituencies of Azad Kashmir, the NWFP and Balochistan will be scrutinised on July 11 and 13. The applications from Sindh would be discussed on July 16, 17 and 19.
The applications received from Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions would be scrutinised on July 16, from Sukkur and Larkana Divisions on July 17 while the decisions on the applications from Karachi would be taken on July 19. The processing of the applications from Punjab will be started on July 23, which will continue till July 30.
Party circles are claiming that not only a large number of applications were received for all constituencies all over the country but the number of aspirants to join the PPPP and contest the coming elections on PPPP tickets is also very large.
The party circles claims that rush of politicians from Punjab, in particular, to join the PPPP, is extraordinary, but party high command is maintaining strict secrecy in this respect.
"In the first phase, the PPPP may announce the names of party candidates for provincial constituencies only while the announcement of candidates for national constituencies would be made public at an 'appropriate time'," the party circles said.
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