CHAKWAL, April 18: Two candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, who had filed their nominations despite a seat adjustment formula with the Pakistan People’s Party, withdrew their papers from the Returning Officer of Chakwal on Thursday.

Former Member of Provincial Assembly from PML-Q, Sardar Khurram Nawab, and District President Chaudhry Mohammad Ali had submitted their nominations to contest elections from NA 60 and PP 20 respectively.

However, on Thursday, both politicians withdrew their nominations.

“We have withdrawn due to the seat adjustment formula between the PML-Q and PPP,” Chaudhry Mohammad Ali told Dawn on Thursday evening. When asked why he and Khurram Nawab had initially submitted their nomination papers, he said they had been ordered to do so by the party leadership.

According to the formula, both parties had decided that NA-60 and its provincial constituencies (PP-20 and PP-21) would be contested by the PPP, while the PML-Q would file its candidates in NA 61 and its two provincial seats (PP 22 and PP 23).

Keeping this deal in view, the PPP had not fielded its candidates in NA 61, PP-22 or PP-23., while the PML-Q gave the green signal to Chaudhry Pervez Elahi for NA 61.

In another twist of events, Dawn has learnt that Chaudhry Pervez Elahi is trying his best to get Raja San-ul-Haq, PPP’s candidate in NA 60, to withdraw from the elections.

He wants the PPP’s support for Sardar Ghulam Abbas, an independent candidate who enjoys a vast vote bank in NA-60 and NA-61. With the PPP supporting him in NA-60, Mr Abbas may get more votes and give the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a tough time.

However, when contacted, Sadar Ghulam Abbas said, “I will not bring any change in my panel because I am in no position to take such a step.”