BAHAWALPUR, Dec 13: Two more candidates submitted their nomination papers on Friday to contest the byelection on NA-187 (Bahawalpur-five) seat.

Dawn learnt that the PML-Q had awarded the ticket to Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi who had earlier lost the October election on NA-186 (Bahawalpur-four). He was defeated by National Alliance’s Mian Riaz Husain Peerzada.

Sajjad Jathol, a relative of the district Nazim and PPP leader Tariq Cheema, had lost the election on a seat in the Bahawalnagar district.

Earlier, Mrs Rozina Jamil Akhtar and Khalid Mahmood Jajja had filed their papers. Saturday (today) is the last day for filing the nomination papers.

Despite a PPP seat and the home constituency of district Nazim Tariq Cheema, the PPP has so far not fielded its candidate. The decision might be taken on Saturday (today) in this regard after the return of Mr Cheema from Lahore.

Similarly, the PML-N and MMA have also not announced their candidates.

ISTASQA: On the appeal of Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, Namaz-i-Istasqa was offered after Juma prayers at a number of places in the city.

The faithful prayed for the end of the dry spell particularly in the desert areas of Cholistan from where the people started migration.