Rashid Mahmood Virk gets PML-N ticket for NA-77 by-election

GUJRANWALA: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has finalised Rashid Mahmood Virk, son of late MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, as its candidate for the by-election in NA-77, following the death of his father.

The decision was taken after a three-member committee constituted by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif considered the nomination for the constituency. The committee comprised Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Minister of State Rana Mubashir.

The committee unanimously recommended Rashid Mahmood Virk’s name for the by-election and forwarded its report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for consideration. The recommendation was subsequently sent to Nawaz Sharif, who approved his candidature for NA-77, according to party sources.

Following the approval, Attaullah Tarar telephoned Rashid Mahmood Virk and congratulated him on being nominated as the PML-N candidate for the constituency.

The NA-77 seat fell vacant after the death of Chaudhary Mahmood Bashir Virk, who was elected on a PML-N ticket in the 2024 general election. The National Assembly’s official record lists him as the PML-N member from NA-77 and later records the seat as vacant following his death.⁠

Rashid Mahmood Virk’s nomination will now put the PML-N campaign in the hands of the late MNA’s family as the party seeks to retain the constituency.

The Election Commission of Pakistan’s 2024 results show that Mahmood Bashir Virk won NA-77 on the PML-N ticket, making the constituency one of the key electoral contests in Gujranwala.