LAHORE: After rescinding the seat adjustment talks with PML-N, the Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain-led PML-Q has started openly supporting PPP`s Bilawal BhuttoZardari in the race for National Assembly`s constituency, NA-127 Lahore.

Addressing a press conference at the PPP secretariat on Thursday, PML-Q chief organiser and former Punjab governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar announced his party`s backing for Mr BhuttoZardari.

The PPP leader is up against PML-N`s Attaullah Tarar in NA-127.

Terming the PPP chairman `future of the country` who always speaks for equality, he said Lahore would not disappoint the son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

He suggested PTI extend a help-ing hand for the PPP leader`s success, saying it would be the `best diplomatic move` against PML-N.

Mr Sarwar said he would focus on the success of Mr Bhutt-Zardari from Lahore as `it would strengthen the federation`.

In reply to a question, he added that PML-Q`s support for the PPP leader was not due to any personal benefit; instead, he considered him the best candidate and was satisfied with his performance as the foreign minister during his 16-month stint.

He said that supporting Mr Bhutto-Zardari was not just his personal decision; the PML-Q head, Mr Hussain, gave it a green signal.

According to Mr Sarwar, his love for PPP `is not new`, and his relations with the Bhutto family have spanned over 40 years.

He recalled that when Benazir Bhutto was campaigning against dictatorship, he stood by her side. `PPPhas never done divisive politics.

The former governor advised political parties to `respect each other` and urged the authorities concerned to provide a level playing field to all political players.

Meanwhile, the PML-Q has also withdrawn its candidates from NA-117 and two Punjab Assembly seats, PP-145 and PP-146, in favour of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidates.

In a meeting attended by Mr Sarwar and IPP president Abdul Aleem Khan, PML-Q`s candidate from NA-117, Mian Waheed Ahmed, announced his withdrawal from the contest.

Mr Khan is IPP`s candidate from NA-117. Similarly, Syed Hashmat Ali and Syed Rashid Riaz, candidates from PP-145 and PP-146, respectively, also announced that they would run the election campaign for the IPP chief instead of contesting the election.