The candidature of Noor Jehan, a cousin of Shahrukh Khan, has been approved by the Election Commission of Khyber Pakthunkhwa Province. Having been denied a ticket by the Awami National Party, she will be contesting the July 25 elections as an independent candidate
Ms. Jehan, Mr. Khan’s paternal cousin, is contesting from the PK-77 constituency. She expressed disappointment over trolling of Mr. Khan in India earlier this month following her decision to contest the elections. “Shah Rukh Khan is an Indian national and I am a Pakistani national. He has nothing to do with my election bid,” she said after the submission of her nomination papers.
Close contact with his family
Ms. Jehan resides in Mohallah Shah Wali Qataal, at the back of Qissa Khwani Bazaar. She has visited the superstar twice and the family maintains a close contact with their relatives across the border.
Ms. Jehan’s brother Mansoor, who is leading her election campaign, told Pakistan’s The Express Tribune newspaper that their family had been a part of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. “We have a political legacy attached to the family,” he said, adding that his sister has previously served as a councillor.