CHAKWAL: The PML-Q has a clear shot at winning in NA-65, Chakwal-H, after PML-N candidate Sardar Faiz Tamman unexpectedly withdrew his candidature.

PML-Q candidate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, who had the support of the PTI, won from this constituency with 157,497 votes against Mr Tamman`s 106,081.

Mr Elahi also won a National Assembly seat in his native Gujrat but gave up both for the office of speaker Punjab Assembly.

The PML-Q then decided to field Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for the by-elections in NA-65 but after `dialogues` with Sardar Faiz Tamman, it was decided that Chaudhry Shujaat`s son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain will contest the elections instead.

The withdrawal of Mr Tamman`s candidaturehas lef t local PML-N leaders surprised.

Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference Sunday evening at the Talagang Press Club, former PML-N MPA Malik Shehryar Awan said the withdrawal of Mr Tamman`s candidature was `shocking and unfortunate`.

`The PML-N gave Faiz Tamman a new political life when he was awarded the party ticket for the 2018 general elections even though he was not active in politics for the last eight years,` Mr Awan said.

He regretted that Mr Tamman had betrayed the party and the people of the area and that the party had nothelded a covering candidate.

`Our mistake was blindly trusting Sardar Faiz Tamman,` he said, adding that Mr Tamman was in contact with him till a few days ago.

`When the election schedule was announced, I asked him if he was ready to contest the election and he said he was. Because he was the run-ner up in the general elections, the party thought it was his right to contest again,` he added.

He said the party will not support any other candidate in the upcoming by-election scheduled for Oct 14.

Sardar Faiz Tamman told Dawn his decision was a `strategic retreat` which will be helpful for the area.

`No one was supporting me in the campaign and many leading political figures have left the party. A few days ago, PML-N leader Malik Falak Sher Awan called to say he will not be able to support me in the election campaign,` he said, adding that he did not have the means to contest on his own.

`The Chaudhrys of Gujrat promised they will do the best for the development of the area, which is what I want,` he said, adding that he will like to take part in the upcoming local bodies` elections.