Kulsoom Nawaz runs for her husband’s seat in bellwether by-election
Pakistan’s election commission will release the candidate list today for September’s by-election in the constituency previously held by Nawaz Sharif.
After the former prime minister was barred from holding public office and subsequently resigned, his wife Kulsoom Nawaz declared that she will run for his seat.
Ahead of next year’s general election, the by-election will serve as an important indicator of where the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stands. While the PML-N won the 2013 general election by a landslide and hasn’t lost an election in the constituency since 1985, its deep entrenchment with the Sharif family could prove troublesome.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, an opposition party which runs on an anti-corruption platform has a decent chance of beating Mrs Nawaz in the district. Even if the Sharifs and the PML-N manage to hold on to the constituency, expect more headaches for the dynasty ahead of next year’s election, as former President General Pervez Musharraf returns to the political stage.
