Top leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are urging voters to support their party’s ‘lion’ electoral symbol in the upcoming general elections. However, an ironic twist arises as the Sharif brothers, prominent figures within the PML-N, find themselves unable to cast their votes for their party’s candidate on the National Assembly seat.
The reason behind this discrepancy lies in the voting registrations of Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and Hamza Shehbaz, which are all located in NA-128. In this constituency, the PML-N has formed a seat adjustment with the Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP) party. Consequently, while the PML-N has chosen not to field any candidate for the National Assembly seat in NA-128, they have instead pledged support for IPP leader Aun Chaudhry, whose election symbol is the “eagle”.
Despite this arrangement, the Sharif brothers are still eager to exercise their right to vote. However, they will have to cast their votes for their party’s candidate, Umar Sohail, in a different constituency, namely PP-161.
In terms of their own electoral aspirations, Nawaz Sharif is contesting from two NA constituencies, NA-15 Mansehra and NA-130 Lahore. Similarly, Shehbaz Sharif has entered the electoral fray in NA-123 and NA-132, while Hamza Shehbaz Sharif is the PML-N’s candidate for NA-118 Lahore.
On the administrative front, the Election Commission has diligently organized and prepared for the polling process. A total of 90,675 polling stations have been set up across the country’s four provinces. Additionally, a substantial number of candidates, totaling 5,121, are competing for National Assembly seats in the upcoming elections.
