VEHARI, April 17 The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seems in hot waters as local leaders have turned down a plea by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to support Shahid Mehdi Naseem in by-election to NA-167 to be held on May 15.

Dawn learnt that Pakistan People's Party's (PPP's) candidate Nazir Jat seems comfortable in his electioneering because all party leaders and former party ticket holder Chaudhry Mahmood Akhtar Ghuman are supporting him.

The seat fell vacant when Mr Jat resigned as MNA to avoid disqualification from a Supreme Court bench in March.

Dawn learnt Mr Sharif called to the group which consists of former provincial ministers Chaudhry Nazir Arain and Mohyudddin Chishti, former MNA Chaudhry Qurban Chohan and Sardar Aqeel Dogar, and urged it to support Mr Naseem. But the group refused to withdraw Mr Arain in favour of the PML-N candidate.

In the February 2008 elections, Jat (then PML-Q) bagged 65,250 votes, Syed Sajid Mehdi (independent) 38,383, Chaudhry Mahmood Akhtar Ghuman (PPP-Parliamentarians) 33,542, Syed Muhammad Iqbal Shah (PML-N) 7,684, and Qurban Ali Chohan (independent) 14,754 votes.

All the three major candidates - Mr Jut, Mr Naseem and Mr Arain - have started their election campaign.

Mr Jat is relying on party support and the development schemes he has got executed in the area. His development schemes include provision of gas to the city, brick kilning of canals, setting up of Nilibar Agriculture Research Centre and Southern Punjab University.

Mr Naseem has boosted his election campaign as MNA Tehmina Daultana is also taking part in his electioneering.