LAHORE, June 8: The PPP and the PML-N have failed to put up joint candidates for by election to four provincial seats. The leaders of the two parties met here on Tuesday at the residence of Zulfikar Khosa, but they could not take any decision.

It is said that Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia said the Lahore seat should be given to his party candidate and in return the PML-N could get one of the three seats in Bahawalpur district. Rana Sanaullah, Binyamin Rizvi, Inamullah Khan Niazi, Rana Mashhood and Rana Aftab Ahmad were among the participants.

According to a press release, another meeting will be held soon to iron out differences. However, a PML-N leader said it was too late for the ARD to put up joint candidates. Benazir's return: The date for Ms Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistan would be set in October-November, her spokesman Munawar Anjum said on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters on his return from London where he met the self-exiled leader, he said various committees had been set up to select the city she should land on her return. The committees, he said, would also prepare reports on all aspects of the situation likely to emerge.

He said the party had also set up a new organization - the People's Congress - which would have its units in all four provinces. The Congress would comprise 100 members with Ms Bhutto as the chairperson.

The new organization would hold at least three meetings in a year. Mr Anjum said a Women's People Secretariat would also be set up in every province. The Punjab secretariat would be headed by MPA Uzma Bokhari.