PML-N, PTI major contenders for PP-202 after PPP withdrawal.

SAHIWAL -- Although the local office of the Election Commission of Pakistan issued the final list of 13 candidates for the upcoming by-elections in PP-202 (Sahiwal-VII), the main contest will be between the candidates of the PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf as the PPP has decided to withdraw its nominee.

It is for the first time that the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has fielded its candidate - Umair Saleem Rizvi, a resident of 111/12-L, Tehsil Chichawatni, - in this constituency.

In another development, Pakistan People's Party has decided to withdraw its candidate Muhammad Mansha following an understanding between the PML-N and PPP.Mansha had contested the 2018 general election on the PPP platform and secured 5,023 votes.

Many observers say that there will be a one-on-one fight between Nouman Ahmed Langrial (PML-N) and retired Maj Sarwar (PTI). They say TLP does not seem to be in a position to attract voters or affect any candidate.

It is learnt that many PTI leaders were opposing Sarwar's candidature but finally Chaudhry Adil Saeed Gujar [major contender] accepted party's high command decision.

Sources say this was not possible without the intervention of PTI Punjab president Dr. Yasmin Rashid and general secretary Mian Hammad Azhar and local party 'heavyweight' Rai Hasan Nawaz. They all announced the [party ticket] decision in a public gathering two days back.

PP-202 is the ancestral constituency of the Langrials and mostly it constitutes rural...