RAWALPINDI, Dec 27: Syed Zafar Ali Shah of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Rashid Naseem Abbasi of the People’s Party Parliamentarians withdrew their nomination papers for the NA 56 by-polls.

There are now eight candidates who would be contesting the January 15 by-poll of NA 56 constituency.

Their names are: Mohammad Yousaf Mirza (PPP), Mohammad Hanif Abbasi (MMA), Sheikh Rashid Shafique (PML-Q), Amir Mehmood Kiani (PTI) and independent candidates— Sardar Shaukat Hayat, Agha Riazul Islam, Raja Hanif Abbasi and Malik Naseer Ahmed.

Agha Riazul Islam and Sardar Shaukat Hayat had contested and lost the general elections from NA 55 and 56, respectively. Both the PPP candidates were looking for a second chance from the party.

But the PPP nominated Mr Mirza as its candidate for the by- polls. Agha Riaz and Shaukat did not withdraw in favour of their party’s candidate and decided to contest the poll as independent candidates.

According to sources, Zafar Ali Shah and Rashid Naseem Abbasi have withdrawn to support the PPP candidate.— Our Reporter