BAHAWALPUR, Dec 28: Independent candidate Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi, who did not accept the ruling party for NA-187 by-election, is banking on the support of PPP leader and district Nazim Tariq Cheema.

Mr Gardezi had stunned the pro-government circles when he refused to accept the PML-Q ticket at the time of the allocation of election symbol on Friday.

Mr Gardezi is convinced that he cannot win the election without the support of the district Nazim because this constituency is his stronghold.

Mr Cheema had also helped Mr Gardezi on NA-186 (Bahawalpur four) in Oct 10 elections where he lost to Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada with a margin of 3,700 votes.

Dawn learnt that PPP leader Tariq Cheema had made it clear to Tasneem Gardezi that if he accepted PML-Q ticket, he (Cheema) would not be able to support him in the by-election.

Sources said that Tariq Cheema would not support PSP president Taj Muhammad Langah who had been awarded the PPP ticket by party chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto.

Meanwhile, a number of PPP workers have protested against the awarding of ticket to the PSP president.

STOLEN: Two motorcycles were stolen here on Saturday. ASI Muhammad Azhar’s motorcycle (LSA-8276) was taken away from the district Nazim office while the motorcycle (BRC-5991) of Maqsoodul Hassan from Madina mosque. Cantonment police have registered separate cases.