SARGODHA, Sept 20: Punjab chief minister during his visit to the district tried to placate MNA Anwar Ali Cheema, who was denied party support for district nazim slot in favour of Mr Inamul Haq Piracha, by appreciating his withdrawal while addressing a gathering of elected representatives at Cheema’s residence.

He said on the occasion that no political party could flourish if it refused to accommodate new groups in its folds.

The chief minister said to welcome new entrant party leaders should render sacrifices like Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema who despite having a clear vote majority preferred to honour the verdict of the party high command.

Saying the withdrawal of Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema was decided by the PML’s central leadership headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, he appreciated Mr Cheema for ‘setting a good precedence’ for others.

Later, he announced the list of PML-backed candidates for various slots in the district, according to which the party supports Sheikh Inamul Haq Piracha for district nazim slot, Mian Sultan Ali Ranjha, son of provincial minister Mian Manazir Ali Ranjha, for district naib-nazim slot, MPA Malik Shoaib Ahmed Awan for Sargodha tehsil nazim slot, Sardar Ghulam Asghar Lashari for Sahiwal tehsil nazim slot, Chaudhry Farrukh Javed Ghuman for Sillanwali tehsil nazim slot, Bakhtiar Mela for Kotmomen tehsil nazim slot, Sardar Fateh Khan Meikan for Shah Pur tehsil nazim slot and Malik Imtiaz Bhirth for Bhalwal tehsil nazim slot.

On the occasion, talking to newsmen, the chief minister said party high command would not accept Anwar Cheema’s resignation, rather he would be elevated to some ‘prominent post’ in acknowledgement of his ‘sacrifice and services’.

Mr Elahi said Mr Cheema had not consulted the party high-ups while announcing his candidature, hence the party leadership took this (withdrawal) decision in the larger interest of the PML. He said joining of Piracha family would strengthen the party.

He said difference of opinion was good, but no member or leader would be allowed to violate party discipline.

Earlier, Mr Cheema said he withdrew his candidature in compliance of party high command’s decision and he submitted his resignation for its onward presentation to the National Assembly speaker. He said that he would continue to serve the party as an ordinary worker and would not change his decision for retaining the MNA seat. He added that he along with his companions would vigorously run Mr Piracha’s campaign.

Mr Piracha, in his speech, reposed his confidence in the leadership of Gen Pervez Musharaf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and assured Anwar Cheema and his group that he would make Sargodha a model district with their cooperation.

The chief minister then went to Mr Piracha’s residence where he met MNA Mian Mazhar Ahmed Qureshi, MPA Khalid Kalyar and Major Asghar kalyar, besides UC nazims, naib-nazims and councillors belonging to Piracha group who had not gone to Mr Cheema’s residence.

Some nazims, naib-nazims and councillors from Bhalwal protested against the nomination of Mr Imtiaz Bhirth, but the chief minister firmly said it had been decided with consensus.

Later, MNA Mazhar Ahmed Qureshi and Kalayar group left Mr Piracha’s residence in protest when the chief minister refused to accept their objections to the nominations made for Shahpur, Sahiwal and Bhalwal tehsils. They said if the ruling PML leaders insisted upon fielding their own candidates in the three tehsils, they would not withdraw their candidates.

However, Mr Piracha convinced the angry group to show statesmanship to avoid any further complication which according to him could cause damage to the party.

The Piracha’s showed their strength by gathering a large of number of elected people at their residence, besides parliamentarians from the area.

The chief minister held long meetings with the parliamentarians, separately, and assured them that no injustice would be done to any party member.

He assured Chaudhry Nasir Muhammad Ali, a candidate for Bhalwal tehsil nazim slot that he would be considered favourably if MPA Dr Mukhtar Bhirth and Imtiaz Bhirth did not join the PML.

Meanwhile, sources close to Anwar Ali Cheema said Dr Mukhtar Bhirth would announce joining the PML in Lahore on Wednesday at a special meeting with Punjab chief minister.