(Former Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif)

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday announced to disqualify a former federal minister Daniyal Aziz by sentencing him on charges of contempt of the court, which means he cannot contest elections for the next five years.

This is the third casualty of former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) after disqualification for life of the party head Mian Nawaz Sharif, who remained Prime Minister for three terms (last time from May 2013 to July 2017) and the last Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (from August 2017 to May 2018). An Election Tribunal on June 27 disqualified Mr. Abbasi on charges of concealing his assets. He is contesting from two constituencies and this disqualification order pertained to his hometown constituency NA-57 (Murree). He later appealed against the Election Tribunal's decision in the Rawalpindi bench of Lahore High Court, which allowed him on July 29 to contest in the election. He is also contest from NA 53 (Islamabad).

PML (N) remained a target of the apex court after the party's severe criticism on the supreme court by the party leaders after disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. The party is blaming the Election Commission and Caretaker government for a pre-poll rigging. However, both have denied.

Although the party remained in power till end of the tenure of the National Assembly on May 31, 2018, the party leaders feel it difficult to contest in the forthcoming general elections on 25th of July. The central leader Mian Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter, who is also contesting elections from Lahore, the capital of Punjab, are in London to take care of ailing Kalsoom Nawaz, wife of Nawaz Sharif.

Mian Shahabz Sharif is steering the election campaign as he is also contesting from different constituencies including one in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province.

Many former members of PML (N) who were not happy of allotment of tickets or face difficulties to contest elections from the platform of PML (N) are contesting as independent candidates with a joint election symbol of Jeep. PML(N) has acquired the same election symbol of Lion.

(Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, immediate past Prime Minister of Pakistan)