ISLAMABAD (TIP): The July 21 election in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is one of the challenges PM Nawaz Sharif faces upon his return from London after undergoing a heart surgery.

The region has traditionally voted for federal governing parties, but Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is facing stiff competition from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The PPP’s aggressive election campaign has revolved around Sharif’s pro-India polices with ” Modi ka jo yaar hai, ghadhar hai, ghadhar hai (whoever is Modi’s friend is a traitor)” being its slogan.

“The election is very important for Pakistan because if the PML-N wins, then it would send out a message that Sharif’s policy of friendship with Narendra Modi has people’s support,” PPP chief Bilawal Bhuto Zardari said.

Some believe the PPP’s anti-India stance is aimed at getting closer to the powerful military establishment. Imran Khan-led PTI too is seen as a serious contender as many PPP and PML-N members have joined the party.