LAHORE, April 20: The Pakistan People’s Party on Saturday issued the list of its candidates for central Punjab.

The PPP leadership could not finalise a candidate against Shahbaz Sharif for PP-161 and left the constituency ‘open’. Similarly, it has also failed to award a ticket to any of the applicants for NA-128 and left it ‘open for the time being’.

The PPP reportedly had offered Abdul Rashid Bhatti, a PTI dissident, to contest on NA-128, but he refused. He wants the PPP platform for PP-161 to ‘defeat’ Shahbaz.

Earlier, Col Rana M Tariq (retired), PPP nominee for PP-161, withdrew his papers in favour of Shahbaz.

The PPP seems to have withdrawn its candidates in favour of PML-Q’s Ali Asjad Mali for NA-113, Daska, Rai Aslam Kharal NA-143, Okara, and Pir Muhammad Shah Khaggah NA-164, Pakpattan.

Earlier, both had agreed to leave these seats ‘open’ in order to accommodate their candidates.

The PPP appears to be short of potential candidates in some constituencies. In Nankana Sahib, it did not mind welcoming former MPA Rai Shahjahan Bhatti back who had joined the PML-N. But the PML-N denied him the Punjab Assembly ticket. The PPP has now awarded him National Assembly ticket.

Firdous Ashiq Awan has been awarded two NA tickets from Sialkot district (NA-110 and NA-111).

The PPP NA candidates from central Punjab are: