ISLAMABAD: All candidates wishing to run in the next national and provincial legislature elections have been invited by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) to submit their nomination papers by Wednesday, December 20, to their respective returning officers.
The overwhelming number of applicants for each seat on the projected deadline prevented the parliamentary board, which is analyzing the process of evaluating the circumstances of each constituency independently, from finishing its work in the last three weeks.
On Sunday, “The News” was informed by well-placed PMLN sources that the review process will be finished tomorrow, Tuesday, December 19. The final list of ticket holders for both assemblies’ echelons will be revealed on Thursday following two days of leadership negotiations, and the tickets would be given out that same day.
The sources went on to say that, should they not receive a ticket, the candidates who had submitted their candidacy papers would be urged to withdraw because they would be considered for other prestigious positions, such as those in the Senate and executive offices. Following discussions with other senior figures, PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif and party president Shahbaz Sharif will release the list of ticket holders.
The 12 long sessions of the parliamentary board, which were co-chaired by PMLN president Shahbaz Sharif and leader Nawaz Sharif, were devoted to examining the constituencies. At the end of each meeting, the board’s recommendations were compiled. The sources underlined that arrangements with like-minded parties and seat adjustments needed to be finalized, which is why the news on the ticket holders was delayed.
According to the sources, the parties are eager to work with the PMLN to adjust on a larger number of seats. In comparison, and on a larger scale, the PMLN has decided to implement these changes in KP, Sindh/Karachi, and Balochistan. Regarding the constituencies in Punjab, the PMLN would be adhering to a strict formula. Not more than seven to ten percent of total seats in the province, which is thought of be the PMLN’s historical bastion, according to the sources.
Senator Professor Irfan Siddiqui, the convenor of the PMLN election manifesto committee, has traveled to Lahore and choreographed the basic draft of the manifesto. He will present it to Nawaz Sharif, and the manifesto is probably going to be released soon after the ticket holders’ list is revealed. According to the sources, the 40-member manifesto committee has incorporated concerns of public interest, but they have been presented realistically after gathering a significant amount of feedback from the general public and party officials.
According to the sources, a nine-point agenda that is based on the manifest has been put together in the interim and will essentially serve as a blueprint for the PMLN’s post-election preparations. The party’s nine-point plan would be the focal focus of its electoral campaign.
Justice for the average man and extensive court system reforms are on the agenda. It would also guarantee a reduction in governmental and administrative spending. The national exchequers revenue and average citizen income would rise, and the tax structure would undergo significant overhaul. The measures to boost exports would be implemented quickly and in full. Gas, electricity, and information technology (IT) tariffs would all be drastically reduced. The sources further stated that administrative oversight would be applied to public sector organizations suffering significant losses.
The sources went on to say that women and young people will have more economic prospects under the 9-point plan. The application of cutting-edge technologies would revolutionize agriculture.
The sources noted that the Shahbaz-led government’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) will remain operational. It was a structure designed to serve as a “single window” for investors, fostering collaboration across various government agencies, and expediting the development of projects.
The sources further stated that Senator Professor Irfan Siddiqui had conferred with PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif and party president Shahbaz Sharif over the nine-point agenda.