BAHAWALPUR, Sept 25: Nine candidates are in run for NA-185 (Bahawalpur V).

Except Farooq Azam Malik (GNA) and Syed Tabish Alwari (PML-QA), rest of the aspirants are new entrants. They are: PTI’s Aftab Ahmed Khan, PAT’s Munawar Hayat Abbasi, PML-Z’s Fiaz Rahim Khan, brother-in-law of Ijazul Haq, PML-N’s Mrs Gul-e-Rana, PPP’s Muhammad Hussain Khan, Muhammad Usman Farooq (Ind) and MMA’s Muhammad Haq Nawaz Qamar.

Munawar Hayat Abbasi is a retired government official while Haq Nawaz Qamar is from the JUP of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani and is a practising lawyer. PML(N) has fielded Mrs Gul-e-Rana after the disqualification of its stalwarts ex-MPA Samiullah Iqbal Mahar and Akmal Bhatti.

PPP’s Sardar Muhammad Hussain Khan, more known here as a lawyer, has never been in the party fold.

Ex-MPA Syed Tabish Alwari (PML-QA) and former MNA Farooq Azam Malik (National Alliance-Millat Party) seem to be strong contestants.