Sanam Javaid to contest elections against Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE: In a bold move, Sanam Javaid, a detained activist of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is set to challenge Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz for Lahore’s provincial assembly seat, as confirmed by Sanam’s father on Tuesday.

Sanam Javaid is currently among numerous PTI members held in custody in connection with the May 9 riots triggered by the arrest of the party’s then-chairman, Imran Khan, in a graft case.

She faces multiple charges, including involvement in an attack on the Corps Commander House in Lahore and the torching of police vehicles in the Cantonment area during earlier violent protests this year.

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The PTI activist’s father revealed that Sanam will officially submit her nomination papers for Lahore’s PP-150 constituency, entering the general elections scheduled for February 8 next year.

He confirmed that Sanam would run on the PTI’s ticket and also file nomination papers for the women’s reserved seat.

“We are in the process of gathering the necessary documents to file her [Sanam Javaid’s] nomination papers,” stated the father.

On the other hand, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz has yet to announce the constituency from which she will be contesting in the upcoming elections, setting the stage for an anticipated and closely watched political face-off in Lahore.