Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday announced to contest elections from on constituency of National Assembly and two constituencies of Punjab Assembly falling in Rawalpindi area.

The national and provincial constituencies have been identified as NA-59 Rawalpindi-III, PP-10 and PP-14, respectively.

Nisar, whose political future and association with the PML-N has been uncertain after the party stepped up its criticism of the establishment and judiciary following Panamagate verdict, made the announcement in a meeting attended by Union Council chairmen, vice chairmen and others.

The councillors assured Nisar that they would support him in the upcoming election and were thanked by him for their commitment.

Nisar also said that he plans on contesting the election from NA-63 Rawalpindi-VII but would make the final decision after meeting political stakeholders of the area.

Besides, NA-59 and NA-63 comprise areas including Chakri, Adyala and parts of Taxila and Gujjar Khan, mostly covered under former NA-52 and NA-53. Although both are traditional strongholds of Nisar, he had lost the latter to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI) Ghulam Sarwar Khan by a small margin in 2013 general elections.

Earlier this month, Nisar had denied any contact with the PTI, amid speculations of him joining the party. He has since been in constant contact with Punjab chief minister and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif.

He had last year refused to join the cabinet of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified and his cabinet stood dissolved.

Opinion

The fallout

The fallout

Faced with an untrustworthy trade partner in the US, the economic imperative for countries would be to pursue trade diversion.

Editorial

April heat
Updated 14 Apr, 2025

April heat

A much broader and more cohesive plan is needed to meet Pakistan’s changing requirements amidst an accelerating climate crisis.
ADB’s advice
14 Apr, 2025

ADB’s advice

WITH the Trump administration’s trade war on China and the rest of the world having led to global economic...
‘Land of the free’
14 Apr, 2025

‘Land of the free’

IN Trumpian America, even those foreigners with legal status are finding that the walls are closing in on them. As...
Caught in between
Updated 13 Apr, 2025

Caught in between

In the absence of a trade agreement, under WTO rules, Pakistan cannot reduce duty rates for the US without doing the same for other countries.
Spirit of giving
13 Apr, 2025

Spirit of giving

THE recent declaration by ulema affirming that organ donation after death is not only permissible but an act of...
Targeting dissent
13 Apr, 2025

Targeting dissent

THE recent notice sent by the FIA to former senator Farhatullah Babar is deeply troubling — and revealing....