The contest for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket in the upcoming NA-129 by-election has put the party’s central leadership to the test, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.
According to sources, three names have been shortlisted for the coveted slot: Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, and Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman.
The PML-N Punjab leadership has forwarded these names to party supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif and the central parliamentary board for the final decision.
Sources said the leadership intends to field only experienced candidates in the NA-129 contest. The shortlisted names were finalised after reviewing each contender’s political career.
Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has been elected as a member of the provincial assembly four times; Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad thrice as MPA and once as an MNA; and Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman has served one term in the provincial assembly. However, all three lost their seats in the February 2024 general elections.
Senior party leaders Chaudhry Baqar Hussain and Rana Imran Manj have also applied for the ticket, but their names were not included in the initial shortlist. The final decision now rests with Nawaz Sharif.
Reporter: Rao Dilshad