Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is less likely to contest on a general seat from Muzaffargarh, it has been learnt. According to PPP sources, she would be allocated one of the National Assembly seats reserved for women instead.

Though she has filed the nomination papers from NA-177, a constituency she had won in 2008 elections, but she is likely to withdraw in favour of her father, Ghulam Rabbani Khar who is also in the run from the same constituency. He had not contested 2008 elections because the graduation clause of the constitution then applied to the contestants.

Two main reasons are being stated for Rabbani Khar’s decision not to contest from her home constituency. One is Amjad Dasti factor who has announced to oppose her tooth and nail during the upcoming polls to settle scores with the former foreign minister who, according to him, had squeezed his political space through frequent interference in political work.

It is feared that Dasti may indulge in political mud-slinging by levelling baseless allegations against Ms Khar.The second reason for her staying out of contest is stated to be her little contact with the voters during the last five years which may deprive her of the seat. “The PPP cannot afford to lose this seat and this is the reason that she would be asked to withdraw her nomination papers to make room for his father,” said the sources.

Quoting her father Ghulam Rabbani Khar, the PPP’s president for DG Khan Division, Sarwar Abbas told TheNation that Hina would not be contesting the coming elections on the general seat. Her father, however, would stay in the contest, he said. When asked that the revised list of PPP’s women candidates on reserved seats did not carry Hina’s name, Sarwar replied that according to the new rules, the party head has the authority to revise the list any time stating the reasons for this revision.