Ex-PM, two ex-governors, three ex-CMs elected from Lahore

LAHORE:Lahorites have once again created history while electing a former prime minister, two former governors and three former chief ministers of Punjab from the provincial metropolis in the 2024 general elections.

Former prime minister and PMLN supermo Nawaz Sharif, who has held this office for three terms have once again been elected from Lahore. Though, after 34 years, he suffered a poll defeat in his political career, and this time from a Mansehra NA seat.

Last time Nawaz suffered a poll defeat was in 1988 when he lost to PPP's Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani from Multan and to Rao Afzal and Mian Amjed Joyia from Okara and Pakpattan besides losing a Provincial Assembly seat in Sheikhupura.

Later onwards, Nawaz never suffered any defeat from any of the country area he contested like Lahore, Sargodha, Abbottabad. Two former governors of Punjab, including Mian Azhar and Sardar Latif Khan Khosa have also won from Lahore from NA-129 and NA-122 respectively and as the candidates backed by the same party, PTI.

This is the third term of Mian Azhar as MNA and he first got elected in the 1988-89 by-polls on IJI ticket and on the seat vacated by Nawaz Sharif. He won from NA-92, Lahore-1 in the 1997 polls on PMLN ticket.

He lost 2002 and 2008 polls. His son Hammad Azhar won the NA seat in 2018 but due to massive police crackdown, he was unable to contest and an elderly Mian Azhar contested and won against PMLN Mian Noman. Azhar served as Mayor Lahore between 1987 to 1989 as well and as Governor Punjab from 1990 to 1992. Both he and Sardar Latif Khosa not only served as Governor Punjab but they are amongst the most elderly lot of Parliamentarians elected from Lahore and are above 80. Sardar Latif Khosa served as Governor Punjab from January 2011 to early 2013 until he was replaced by Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood. He also served as Attorney General and remained with PPP till 2023 after which he joined PTI.

Three former CMs of Punjab elected from Lahore are Nawaz Sharif who served as CM for two terms, Shehbaz Sharif who served for three terms and his son Hamza Shehbaz who served as Punjab chief minister for two months in the year 2022.