PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi suffered a blow on Saturday, as his nominations in all of the Multan constituencies he aimed to contest in the upcoming February 8 elections were rejected by the Appellate Tribunal.
However, relief came for his son, Zain Qureshi, and daughter and Meher Bano, whose appeals were accepted, allowing them to contest in the same district. Qureshi's appeal, however, was accepted from Umarkot's NA-214 constituency in Sindh.
Qureshi had submitted papers for two National Assembly seats (NA-150 and NA-151) and one provincial assembly seat (PP-218) in Multan. The tribunal's decision leaves him out of the running in his own key stronghold.
Meanwhile, jubilation filled the Qureshi household as Zain and Meher Bano Qureshi emerged victorious in their appeals.
Zain will now face off against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Amir Saeed Ansari and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) stalwart Ali Musa Gillani in NA-150 and NA-151. Meher Bano, meanwhile, will contest the PP-218 seat.
Qureshi's rejection comes as a surprise, particularly after the tribunal allowed similar appeals from other PTI candidates previously. His supporters are likely to question the decision and its potential impact on the party's performance in Multan.
For Zain and Meher Bano, the green light to contest marks a crucial opportunity to build their own political careers. With their father's legacy and the PTI's backing, they will be watched closely as they navigate the electoral landscape.
