DERA GHAZI KHAN: The local chapter of Election Commission of Pakistan has declared final list of 17 contestants with their allotted symbols for by-election in PP-240 scheduled to be held on Jan 16.

The seat had fallen vacant after disqualification of wife of Qaisrani tribal chief.

It is for the first time that traditional contestants from family of tribal chief is out of election race. Traditional candidate on PML-N ticket, tribal chief Mir Badshsah had already been disqualified by the court on charges of holding a fake degree.

After his disqualification, his wife Mrs Shamoona Qaisrani made it to the provincial assembly. She has recently been disqualified by the Bahawalpur election tribunal.

Now former UC nazim Mumtaz Qaisrani has been given PML-N ticket to contest the election.

It merits mentioning that out of 17 aspirants, 16 are independently contesting the by-poll.

Among independent candidates, Khwaja Daud Sulaimani is being considered a strong contender as he was defeated by Mrs Shamoona in a tough contest. Correspondent