NA-14 contestants assert victory in separate gatherings

MANSEHRA: Contestants from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and an independent candidate backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed on Friday that they would win the NA-14 seat with significant margins.

Addressing a public gathering on Friday, the PMLN contestant expressed confidence in winning the elections not only in the constituency but across the country. He said the leadership of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was crucial for steering the country out of economic challenges and inflation.

PTI-backed candidate Saleem Imran Swati, PPP aspirant Shujah Salim Khan, and JI contestant Dr Tariq Shirazi also addressed gatherings, outlining their respective commitments.

Sardar Mohammad Yusuf, PMLN central vice president and former federal minister, criticised the PTI for allegedly causing political and economic damage to the country through wrong policies and corruption.

“The country is currently experiencing the most severe inflation in its history, leading to a substantial reduction in the purchasing power of the people,” he stated.

Saleem Imran Swati, supported by PTI, criticised PMLN, accusing the party of causing economic turmoil despite multiple terms in power.

PPP contender Shujah Salim Khan, also the provincial general secretary of his party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, presented Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as the nation’s hope.

“The PML-N and PPP are two sides of the same coin, having detrimentally impacted the country’s economy through corruption,” he alleged.