October 1, 2005	Saturday	Sha'aban 26, 1426

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ATTOCK, Sept 30: A newly-elected Attock union council nazim of Muslim League Nawaz Group, his deputy and nine councillors have joined hands with the ruling PML-backed Khattar group.

Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel on Friday evening, Ghazanfar Javed Malik, union coucil nazim of PML-N backed Sharafat group said that it was not an individual decision, adding that they joined the Khattar group with the consent of PML-N local leader Sheikh Aftab Ahmed.

Besides Khattar group workers, former district nazim Tahir Sadiq Khan, PML Attock chief organizer Sardar Mumtaz Khan and candidate for tehsil nazim Qazi Khalid Mehmood were also present on the occasion.

It is pertinent to mention that most of the public representatives who joined the PML-backed group appeared extremely nervous during the question-answer session.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Sheikh Aftab Ahmed was not available for comments when this reporter tried to contact him.

Khattar Group leader and former district nazim Maj (retired) Tahir Sadik Khan said former naib nazim Attock Malik Sameen Khan, who has been elected Gharibwal Union Council nazim, will be reconsidered for the slot of district naib nazim.

Mr Khan stated this while talking to this reporter. Besides Malik Sameen Khan, PML Attock District Chief Organizer Sardar Mumtaz Khan and newly-elected nazim, Mehra Sharif UC, Pir Mehmood Ahmed, were also present on the occasion.

The former district nazim said Malik Sameen Khan was being considered for second term in the office owing to his loyalty to the group and past performance as naib nazim.

He once again claimed that his group would clinch the top slot of district nazim and all seats of tehsil nazims with clear majority “as opposition groups had failed to field any potential candidates against the Khattar Group nominees”.

Mr Khan termed allegations levelled by opposition candidates about harassment and pre-poll rigging as propaganda, saying the latter had already sensed their defeat in the elections due to their weak political position.

He termed as baseless speculations that Khattar Group had made some deal with the local PML-N leadership as a result of which PML-N’s candidate Dr Waseem withdrew his nominations for the slot of tehsil nazim Attock and 18 newly-elected members of the party, including nazims and naib nazims of two UC of Attock- III and Sarwala, joined Khattar Group.

Replying to another question about the reports regarding expected joining of PML by PML-N leader Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Mr Khan said he did not know about it, but if he (Sheikh Aftab) or any other opposition leader of the district wanted to join the party, they would be welcomed.

Meanwhile, Sardar Mumtaz Khan, Khattar Group’s candidate for the slot of tehsil nazim Jand, has decided to withdraw his candidature in favour of his group’s fellow-candidate Sardar Mansar Ameer Khan.

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