The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced to change its nominee for the post of chief minister of Punjab over fears of Mian Aslam Iqbal’s arrest.

“The police of the entire province are present around the Assembly to arrest him. In this situation, the party leadership in consultation with Mian Aslam Iqbal has nominated Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan for the election of the chief minister,” a post on the PTI’s X account read.

Iqbal had secured a transit bail from the Peshawar High Court to protect himself from arrest.

However, the party said that the police were deployed around the Punjab Assembly to arrest the PTI leader.

Iqbal was among the several PTI leaders who were declared absconders in the May 9 case. An anti-terrorism court in Lahore had labeled 11 PTI candidates as absconders on May 9, 2023.

In Friday’s maiden session, 85 members of the PTI who have joined the Sunni Ittehad Council were sworn in.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has fielded Maryam Nawaz as its candidate for chief minister.