ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) issued the final list of the party’s candidates for the National Assembly on Sunday. The list has revealed that the party has decided to leave fifty-three seats vacant across the country.
The final list was posted by former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on his social media account X, containing constituencies and names of candidates.
The list revealed that PML-N has not fielded candidates in fifty-three out of the 266 constituencies of the National Assembly.
NA-4, NA-12, NA-19, NA-20, NA-21, NA-22, NA-28, NA-44, NA-45, NA-48, NA-54, NA-64, NA-88, NA-92, NA-117, NA-128, NA-143, NA-149, NA-165, NA-185, NA-190, NA-191, NA-192, NA-193, NA-194, NA-195, NA-196, NA-197, NA-198, NA-199, NA-200, NA-201, NA-202, NA-203, NA-204, NA-206, NA-207, NA-208, NA-209, NA-210, NA-212, NA-214, NA-215, NA-217, NA-218, NA-221, NA-222, NA-223, NA-224, NA-228, NA-245, NA-248, NA-264
PML-N Eyeing Electoral Alliances
PML-N has been vying for electoral alliances with parties across the country, including Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) in Punjab, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Muttahid Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Sindh.
The seat-adjustment arrangements will probably account for many of the seats left out of the party’s final list.
The seats Left Vacant
PMLN has left constituencies vacant in Peshawar (NA-28), Malakand (NA-12), and Dera Ismail Khan (NA-44 and 45), likely as part of a seat-adjustment formula with the JUI-F. Seats have also been left empty in Charsadda and Swabi.
The party has also left an open field in Islamabad’s NA-48 and NA-54. Another seat has been left vacant in Gujrat, likely in for the PML-Q.
In Lahore, PML-N has not fielded candidates in NA-117 and NA-128, where the party has reached a seat-adjustment formula with IPP.
Apart from Ghotki, Sukkur, and one constituency in Khairpur, PML-N has mostly been kept out of the electoral race in Sindh. The party has also kept away from Larkana’s 2 seats in what could be called an unofficial seat adjustment with the PPP.
In Karachi, PML-N has not put out candidates NA-239 (south), NA-245 (west), and NA-248. It has reportedly reached an agreement with the MQM in these constituencies.
