FAISALABAD, Sept 15: A triangular contest is likely among candidates of PPP, PML-QA and PML-N on most of the seats in the district after withdrawals and issuance of final lists.

A majority of independents and covering candidates withdrew their nomination papers by Saturday night, leaving the field open for the heavyweights of three major political parties besides some newcomers.

Candidates of these parties are struggling hard to attract the voters who seem disinterested.

Among those left in the field are 25 former MPAs and MNAs . At least 15 candidates are close relatives of the old guard who fail to get tickets due to graduation condition or some other reasons.

According to final lists, Wajid Mustafa son of ex-MNA Ghulam Mustafa Bajwa (PPP), former Saddar tehsil Nazim Mishabuddin Zaigham (PML-N) and Col Ghulam Rasool Sahi (retired) (PML-QA) are in the race for NA-75.

For NA-76, neck-and-neck fight is expected among Rai Ijaz Hussain, son-in-law of ex-MNA Rai Arif Hussain (PPP), former MNA Rai Salahuddin (PML-N) and former MPA Wasi Zafar (PML-QA).

The stage is also set in NA-77 where Asim Nazir, brother of Zila Nazim Zahid Nazir (PML-QA), ex-MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Akram (PML-N) and newcomer Khizar Abbas (PPP) are contesting.

The triangular contest is also expected among Ishaq Shafqat Baloch (PPP), Peerzada Ashraf Zia (PML-N) and Rajab Ali Baloch (PML-QA) in NA-78.

The NA-79 is the only constituency where all three main rivals are former parliamentarians — Rana Farooq Saeed (PPP), Safdar Rehman (PML-N) and Safdar Shakir (PML-QA). They are trying their best to muster support of electorates.

Former MNA Sardar Dildar Ahmed Cheema (PML-QA), Rana Asif Tauseef brother of ex-MNA Rana Tauseef (PML-N) and newcomer Raza Nasarullah Ghuman (PPP) will compete for NA-80.

Another tough contest is likely between Dr Nisar Ahmad (PPP) son-in-law of ex-MNA Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas and ex-MPA Chaudhry Talib Hussain (PML-QA) in NA-81. The other contender, Shahbaz Kisana (PML-N), has not much experience behind him.

For NA-82, former MNA Nisar Akbar Khan (PPP), ex-MPA Sahibzada Fazal Karim (PML-N) and Nasir Ali Shah brother of ex-FMC deputy mayor Zafar Ali Shah are in the run. FDPT chairman Mushtaq Ali Cheema brother of City Nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema (PML-QA) is contesting elections against Mian Irfan Ahmad son of ex-MPA Mian Abdul Mannan (PML-N) and newcomer Ijaz Ahmed Virk advocate (PPP) for NA-83.

In NA-84, ex-MPA Badaruddin Chaudhry (PPP) is facing Abid Sher Ali son of ex-MNA Sher Ali and ex-MPA Fazal Hussain Rahi (MP). The PML-QA leadership has decided to support Mr Rahi.

For NA-85, former federal minister Raja Nadir Pervaiz (PML-N) is in the race against another former federal minister Mian Zahid Sarfraz (PML-QA) while the nominee of PPP, Bilal Noor Ansari, is a newcomer.

The Tehrik-i-Insaf Pakistan and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik, which claim to be the most popular parties, have fielded only four candidates on provincial seats and two on national assembly seats.

Haji Liaquat Ali (PPP), Kashif Aziz (PML-N) and former MPA Afzal Sahi (PML-QA) are the candidates for PP-51 while Saleem Jahangir Chattha (PPP), Rana Idrees Khan (PML-N) and ex-MNA Dr Shafiq Ahmed (PML-QA) are vying for PP-52.

For PP-53, Shuja Tanveer (PPP), Malik Shahid Awan (PML-N) and Rai Naveed (PML-QA) are contesting elections. Raja Shahjahan (PPP), former MPA Chaudhry Azhar Hussain (PML-N) and Ghulam Haider Bari (PML-QA) are in the race for PP-54.

Rana Talib Hussain (PPP), Rai Arif Hussain (PML-N) and former MPA Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan (PML-QA) will fight for PP-55 while Rai Usman Khan (PPP), Sagheer Ahmed (PML-N) and Rai Rab Nawaz Khan (PML-QA) are contesting for PP-56. Malik Khalid advocate (PPP), Naseem Shah (PML-N) and Shamsher Wattoo (PML-QA) are contesting elections for PP-57.

For PP-58, Haji Mehr Maqbool (PPP), Rana Aslam Khan (PML-N) and former MPA Shahid Khalil Noor (PML-QA) are in the run.

For PP-59, Muhammad Tahir Chaudhry (PPP), Dr Sharjeel Hashim (PML-N) and Arif Gill (PML-QA) are the candidates while Maj Basit Elahi (retired) (PPP), Asad Kamal (PML-N) and Khalid Nabi Gujjar (PML-QA) are contesting polls for PP-60.

Mian Farooq Israr advocate (PPP), ex-MPA Zahid Mehmood Goraya (PML-N) and Rasheed Saeed (PML-QA) are the candidates in PP-61 while for PP-62, Mohsin Kharal (PPP), Rai Nadeem (PML-N) and Raja Khalid (PML-QA) are contesting elections.

In PP-63, former MPA Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan (PPP), Muhammad Azhar Khan (PML-N) and Dr Muhammad Yaseen (PML-QA) are struggling hard to win the seat while Jahanzaib Imtiaz Gill (PPP), Jameel Ahsan Gill (PML-N) and Khalid Sadiq Dihloon (PML-QA) are contesting polls for PP-64.

Former MPA Rana Riaz Ahmed (PPP) is facing Malik Saqib Tiwana (PML-N) and Mian Muhammad Jawed (PML-QA) in PP-65 while former FMC mayor Riaz Shahid (PPP), former MPA Rana Muhammad Afzal (PML-N) and Shah Jahan Awan son of ex-MPA Qamar Zaman Awan (PML-QA) are contesting elections for PP-66.

In PP-67, Dr Asad Moazzam (PPP), former MPA Zeeshan Elahi Shah (PML-N) and Arshad Khial (PML-QA) are in the race. Faiz Kamoka (PPP), Mian Zulfiqar (PML-N) and Khalid Imtiaz Baloch (PML-QA) are the candidates for PP-68. Malik Asghar Ali Qaisar (PPP), Muhammad Asghar Malik (PML-N) and Rana Pervaiz Akhtar (PML-QA) are contesting elections for PP-69 while Shahbaz Seela son of former MPA Ismail Seela (PPP), former MPA Rana Sanaullah Khan (PML-N) and Ramzan Awan (PML-QA) are in the run for PP-70.

In PP-71, Kamran Nayyar Dar (PPP), Malik Nawaz (PML-N) and Asad Ali (PML-QA) are contesting elections while Shujaullah Khan advocate (PPP), Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed (PML-N) and Qaisar Sheikh (PML-QA) are in the race for PP-72.