GUJRANWALA, Oct 7: Half a dozen lawyers are in the race for NA-97 which covers rural and urban areas housing Kashmiris, Arains, Jats, Cheemas, Rajputs and Bhangus.

The PML-QA has fielded former MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk who is a senior lawyer and member of the Punjab Bar Council. The PML-N nominee is former MPA Chaudhry Shahid Akram Bhinder, PML-C’s Barrister Adil Saleem Khan, PTI’s Muhammad Masood Akhtar Bhangu and PAT’s Muhammad Ashfaq Butter. Apart from them, advocate Mian Maqsood Ahmad is the sixth lawyer contesting as an independent.

The PPP has nominated Dr Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry and MMA Syed Shabbir Hussain Abbasi.

PTI’s Bhangu has the support of Bhangu clan of Bhatti Bhangu area and is respected widely for being upright. As a lawyer, he serves the poor free of charge.

The PML-QA aspirant is nephew of an ex-senator and former speaker of West Pakistan assembly Chaudhry Muhammad Anwar Bhinder and son of Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Bhinder.

PML-N’s Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk has also sufficient vote bank of his own biradari besides the support of other clans.

PML-C’s Adil Saleem Khan, backed by Hamid Nasir Chattha, could put PML-QA and PML-N aspirants in trouble.