GUJRAT, Aug 23: A close contest is expected between Chaudhry Irfan Safi and Mian Arshad Hayat for the slot of district Naib Nazim.

Sources said the Awam Dost Group (PPP) candidate, advocate Chaudhry Sajid, has withdrawn his candidature in favour of MMA nominee, Chaudhry Irfan Safi.

The PML-N leadership has already announced that they would support the MMA candidate.

Now a close contest is expected between Mr Safi (the joint candidate of PPP, PML-N and MMA) and the PML-Q nominee Arshad Hayat.

Mr Safi is the provincial president of the Shabab-i-Milli while Arshad Hayat is the younger brother of former acting chief minister Mian Afzal Hayat.