Zardari not likely to contest in elections

Islamabad, Apr 28: PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is not likely to contest from the Larkana National Assembly seat, and instead may field his sister Faryal Talpur for the parliamentary seat (NA-207).

Zardari has reportedly decided to continue leading his party without entering the parliament. Although the PPP co-chairman has not announced his decision not to take part in the by-elections, he had given enough hints in a recent interview that he would like his sister to contest for the Larkana seat. A senior PPP leader said the party had decided that Zardari would not contest the by-elections but a formal decision would be taken on May 6. "I think the he will not be a candidate," the Dawn quoted the PPP leader as saying.

Analysts said that Zardari's decision could affect the political situation because everybody was expecting him to become an MNA and eventually become the prime minister after the Supreme Court abolished the condition of graduation.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, whose nomination papers were rejected prior to the February 18 polls, is likely to contest the Lahore's NA-123 seat.

Although Sharif has not yet taken a formal decision, it is believed that he would avoid contesting for the seat if Zardari decides to keep out of the by-election.

ANI