The six religious parties' alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) named its candidates for 13 National Assembly seats of Lahore here on Wednesday. MMA Secretary General Liaqat Baloch has been give party ticket for NA 130.
The alliance has pitched Jamaat-e-Islami's strong man Hafiz Suleman Butt against PML-N Quaid's daughter Maryam Nawaz and PTI's Dr Yasmeen Rashid in the keenly contested constituency NA-125. Hafiz Amjad Ali of JUI-F has been named to contest NA-123, Muhammad Afzal Khan of JUI-F, NA-124, Farid Ahmad Paracha of Jamaat-e-Islami NA 126. Muhammad Arshad Balakoti of JUI-F NA-127, Ch. Manzoor Hussain Gujjar of Jamaat-e-Islami NA-128, Waqar Nadeem Warriach of JI NA-131 (against Imran Khan and Saad Rafique) Pir Ejaz Ahmad Hashmi of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan NA-133, Aneela Mahmood Chaudhry of JI NA-134, Amirul Azeem of JI NA-135, and Ch. Nizamuddin Mayo NA-136.
According to sources the candidates who would most likely to contest on PML-N tickets on 14 NA seats are Shahbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shahbaz, Pervez Malik, Kh Ahmed Hassan, Kh Saad Rafiq, Kh Salman Rafiq, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Malik Riaz, Shaikh Rohail Asghar, Mehr Ishtiaq, Rana Mubashir, Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar and Malik Afzal Khokhar.
PTI has also finalized names of its candidates however PPP is still in the process of finalizing its candidates for 14 NA seats o the provincial capital. Pakistan Awami Tehreek spokesman told Business Recorder that though some persons associated with PAT have filed their nomination papers across Punjab, PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri is yet to decide about the party's participation in the 25th July. A decision will be taken after Eid-ul-Fitr, he added.