Come February, and Lahore is expected to live up to its reputation as the coveted ‘Takht Lahore’ (or the throne of Lahore), as it becomes the battleground for the top-tier political leadership of the country.

From PPPP’s Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who will be contesting from the provincial capital for the first time, to the Sharif family members, including Maryam Nawaz, all of the major political parties have fielded their heavyweights in various constituencies of Lahore for the February 8 polls.

The PTI, whose candidates will now be contesting as independents following the Supreme Court’s orders to strip the party of its symbol (cricket bat), is striving hard to stay in the race. It is believed that whoever wins Lahore (in the elections) will have the ticket to prime-ministership. At least, Lahore will determine the future course of governments to be formed in the Centre and in the Punjab.

Three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif are aiming for the offices of prime minister and chief minister of the Punjab. In the past couple of decades, Lahore has emerged as Sharifs’ stronghold. Though the Imran Khan-led PTI made a dent in their supremacy in the 2018 election, the Sharifs are expected to regain control this year.

Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz are both candidates for the National Assembly from Lahore.

On the other hand, former president Asif Ali Zardari has high hopes for his party in general and Bilawal in particular.

In the past couple of decades, Lahore has emerged as Sharifs’ stronghold. Though the Imran Khan-led PTI made a dent in their supremacy in the 2018 election, the Sharifs are expected to regain control this year.

Political analysts say that the Punjab has a key role in deciding the outcome of any general election. That is because the Punjab has 53 percent of the seats in the National Assembly — ie 141 out of 266. Obviously, if a party wins the Punjab, it has a great advantage.

Within the Punjab, Lahore enjoys the pride of place. As per data provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan, 266 candidates are contesting the 14 seats of the National Assembly from Lahore; and 813 candidates the 30 seats of the Provincial Assembly.

The boundaries of many constituencies have changed after the recent census. Nawaz Sharif is contesting from NA-130 which was previously marked as NA-120. It was here that his late wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, contested the by-election after his disqualification for public office. An interesting fact about that by-election is that it marked Maryam Nawaz’s entry into active politics as she ran the election campaign for her mother.

This year, the contest is going to be hotter. The PTI has fielded Dr Yasmin Rashid, the former provincial minister, against Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam Nawaz is contesting from NA-119. Another interesting match is expected in NA-122, where PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafiq will battle it out with PTI’s Latif Khosa, the former Punjab governor.

Shahbaz Sharif is contesting from NA-123, which is seen as his home constituency. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is contesting from NA-127. This is the central constituency of Lahore, where PML-N’s Pervez Malik won in 2018. For Election ’24, Malik’s wife, Shaista Pervez Malik, is in the field. There are 36 candidates in this constituency.

From NA-118, 19 candidates including PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz and PTI’s Mohammad Khan Madni are in the arena.

Lawyer Salman Akram Raja, another debutant in electoral politics, is contesting from NA-128. In 2018, the PTI had won this seat.

The writer is a print and broadcast journalist