LAHORE  - Taking advantage of their fame, showbiz celebrities have been trying their luck in politics in the subcontinent.
Although Pakistani artists are not interested in politics as much as their Indian counterparts are, a number of stars are contesting 2013 polls. Musarrat Shaheen, a famous heroine of Pashto and Urdu films, gave a surprise to her fans by establishing a political party -- Tehrik-e-Musawaat.
She contested the election in 2008 against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman from NA-24 DI Khan.  Though, she lost the 2008 election, she is again in the race and facing Fazl at the same constituency. 
Shaheen, who started her film career in 1975, has 101 Pashto, 22 Punjabi and 23 Urdu films on her credit.
Famous singer Abrarul Haq, who started his political career in 2011, is contesting election on the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf ticket. He is facing PML-N candidate Ahsan Iqbal at NA-117 Narowal.
TV actor Anwar Iqbal is contesting for two provincial assembly seats PS-90 and PS-127 Karachi on MQM ticket.
Another actor, Gulab Chandio, is also in political arena. He is contesting election on the platform of the PML-F on provincial assembly seat PS-24 Nawabshah. He had contested 1993 general election but lost to his rival.  VJ, Waqar Zaka, is trying his political fate at PS-118 Karachi as an independent candidate.
Film actress Meera had announced to contest election against PTI chief Imran Khan. But, according to film circles, this announcement was only to get media limelight and she did not even submit her nomination papers. However, Meera’s mother Shafqat Zahra Bokhari is contesting election from PP-283 on the ticket of the Pakistan Justice Party.