ISLAMABAD: With only a day left in the submission of nomination papers, the PML-N is still uncertain about its candidate in the NA-46 (Islamabad-I) constituency, as more than three contenders have come forward to contest polls on this particular seat.

In addition to former MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan, who lost two consecutive general elections on this seat and one local government election, former Islamabad deputy mayor Zeeshan Naqvi and PML-N Japan President Malik Noor are vying for the coveted seat.

Observers believe Zeeshan Naqvi has better prospects of winning the election due to his “personal relations not only within the party ranks and voters in his constituency but also with those in the opposition”.

Mr Malik Noor recently returned from Japan to contest the polls and his claim to fame is an altercation with former interior minister Sheikh Rashid in 2017 when he manhandled the Awami Muslim League chief outside parliament over a financial dispute.

Zeeshan Naqvi emerges as ‘top contender’ in constituency for cross-party ties

In the absence of the PTI which is facing an unannounced crackdown in the run-up to polls, the PML-N’s chances of winning this seat are seemingly bright. However, the party needs to reach a consensus on its candidate for the constituency to bag the seat. A senior PML-N leader said the high command was still uncertain about its nominee in NA-46, but it had shortlisted the names for this seat.

“The emergence of Zeeshan Naqvi as a strong aspirant has made the leadership’s job more difficult for the award of ticket in NA-46,” he said, adding that the party candidate – whoever it would be – would need to tap into PTI votes for the win.

In the 2018 elections, PTI candidate Asad Umar had bagged 57,086 votes while Anjum Aqeel Khan of the PML-N received 33,009 votes. In 2013, PTI candidate Makhdoom Javed Hashmi won the seat with 73,692 votes against Anjum Aqeel Khan’s 52,170 votes.

Party insiders told Dawn that Zeeshan Naqvi, during his stint as a deputy mayor, had a good working relationship with union council chairmen from across the political divide. The PML-N leadership has also “received reports that Zeeshan Naqvi has a comparatively clean political career and not a single report has ever been filed against him in the federal capital”.

Interestingly, all three PML-N aspirants have filed their nomination papers and are waiting for the final decision of the party. When contacted, Zeeshan Naqvi said the party has not awarded a ticket for NA-46. He added that he filed his papers for the seat on Friday. “There is a meeting of the PML-N board in Lahore on December 26, in which aspirants would be asked to convince the party leadership of their candidacy in two minutes,” he added.

When contacted Anjum Khan was not available for comment while his close aide Malik Ashraf, said the former MNA filed his nomination papers on Friday. He said many aspirants who claimed themselves as ‘N-Leaguers’ were vying for the seat, but the leadership would decide about the final candidate. He said Anjum Khan would attend the PML-N board meeting in Lahore next week, in which the name of the candidate would be finalised.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2023